Perhaps understandably, the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is feeling misunderstood by the American people. His response? Write them a letter.
Generally castigated by the US media - when referred to at all - as the leader of an unstable would-be nuclear power who wants Israel wiped off the map, Mr Ahmadinejad seems to think a direct approach is needed.
According to today's front page of the state-run newspaper Iran, the president has written a " five-page letter to the American people", to be released by Iran's representative at the United Nations later in the day.
The contents are not yet known. However, it's a fair bet that whatever Mr Ahmadinejad's many other interests - he has a PhD in traffic and transport management for starters - the letter will be some sort of a plea for understanding.
In May, Mr Ahmadinejad sent an 18-page letter to George Bush, the first official communication between the two countries' presidents since Iran's Islamic Revolution of 1979.
As official statements go, it was more chin-stroking philosophical debate than Alastair Campbell-style sound bite, beginning:
For some time now I have been thinking how one can justify the undeniable contradictions that exist in the international arena.
But beneath the rhetoric was severe criticism of US policy in Iraq, the Palestinian territories and elsewhere.
Washington, somewhat unimpressed, criticised the missive for not addressing Iran's nuclear programme, something it has stressed must be dealt with before the nations can hold direct talks.
Perhaps Iraq could help heal the long rift. The Iraq Study Group, which reports in December, could recommend that Washington seek Tehran's support in trying to bring stability to Iraq.
In the meantime, Mr Ahmadinejad feels a direct appeal to the American people over the heads of their government might improve understanding.
It is a bold move, although one worryingly reminiscent of the sort of newspaper advertisements taken out by the over-rich and over-famous when they feel they have been misrepresented.
Perhaps the most famous example is the full page ad taken out in The Times in 1995 by Richard Gere and Cindy Crawford to announce that, contrary to scurrilous rumour, they were "heterosexual and monogamous and take our commitment to each other very seriously".
They separated six months later.
In the face of his even more mixed popular image, what could Mr Ahmadinejad possibly say to win over America?
