No Iranian of former Iranian President Khatami's stature has traveled outside of New York in the United States since followers of Ayatollah Khomeini seized the American embassy in Iran in 1979, taking 52 American hostages for more than a year.

Why is Khatami in the U.S., and what does he represent? For some answers we turn to Afshin Molavi, author of "The Soul of Iran: A Nation's Journey to Freedom."

To listen to the interview, please visit the Boston radio website, WBUR.