Prince Turki Al-Faisal: Iran can be a constructive player, ‘if it wants to’

Prince Turki Al-Faisal, former Saudi intelligence chief and ex-ambassador to Washington and London, speaks at the Middle East Institute’s 70th Annual Conference in Washington on Wednesday.
Updated 19 November 2016
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Prince Turki Al-Faisal: Iran can be a constructive player, ‘if it wants to’

RIYADH: Prince Turki Al-Faisal, former Saudi intelligence chief and former ambassador to Washington and London, warned in Washington on Wednesday that any attempt by US President Donald Trump to strike a deal with Russia and Iran over Syria would be a most disastrous thing.
Speaking on “Rebuilding Alliances, Containing Adversaries,” at the 70th annual conference of the Middle East Institute in Washington, in which prominent Middle Eastern and American experts and foreign policy practitioners participated to discuss the challenges facing the new US administration as it sets its Middle East agenda, the prince said Trump has a duty to revive the US relations with its allies in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, in order to be better able to fight terrorism in the region.
Prince Turki also called on Trump not to scrap the nuclear deal with Iran, noting that it provides the international community with 15 years of respite and is a means of “policing” Tehran.
“I would rather see that this nuclear deal becomes a first step in ridding the Middle East of nuclear weapons, including those of Israel,” he said.
“We want peace in Saudi Arabia, he said, adding that Iran can be a constructive player, if it wants to, but that is something Iranians themselves ought to demand of their leadership.
“Trump should get together with America’s friends in the Middle East to stop the “biggest terrorist, Syrian President Bashar Assad,” Prince Turki said.
He also urged the real estate mogul to “pack his bags” and visit US allies in the region before his induction in January.


King Abdulaziz Camel Festival draws 3,000 foreign visitors

The event, which runs until Jan. 3, is a key feature of the country's cultural tourism offering. (SPA)
Updated 27 December 2025
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King Abdulaziz Camel Festival draws 3,000 foreign visitors

  • Through interactive exhibits and educational presentations, people can gain a deeper understanding of the cultural value camels hold in the Kingdom

RIYADH: The 10th King Abdulaziz Camel Festival is drawing record numbers of international tourists, solidifying its reputation as a premier cultural and heritage event in the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The event, which runs until Jan. 3, is a key feature of the country's cultural tourism offering. According to its organizers, more than 3,000 people from over 50 countries have already visited.

The festival combines a rich array of cultural and entertainment programs that introduce visitors to the world of camels, from their various breeds to their significance in Saudi heritage.

Through interactive exhibits and educational presentations, people can gain a deeper understanding of the cultural value camels hold in the Kingdom.

Many visitors have expressed admiration for the quality of the festival’s organization and the hospitality they received, with some describing it as a “living museum,” the report said.