from across america are being rushed to california, to help contain 22 wildfires raging over an area larger than the city of chicago. fire officials say the death toll has climbed to 2a, but hundreds of people are missing. the organisation which runs the oscars says it will meet this weekend to decide what action to take on what it's described as "repugna nt" allegations against the film producer, harvey weinstein. he's facing a growing number of accusations that he harassed and sexually assaulted a number of women. donald trump is due to announce whether he'll "decertify" the iran nuclear deal. he's described the agreement, in place for two years, as the "worst deal ever". his own defence secretary, along with america's most senior military officer, have both said the deal is limiting iran's nuclear ambitions, as intended. now on bbc news, it's hardtalk. welcome to hardtalk.

i'm shaun ley. seventy years ago, leader mustafa barzani made a declaration of kurdish independence which was ignored. last month, his son masoud won a referendum in iraq, intended to achieve it. however baghdad says it will impose its rule instead. if the kurds are to succeed, masrour, grandson of one barzani, son of the other, will need all the clout he's acquired waging war on the group that calls itself islamic state. he believes that has earned kurds the right to a state of their own. but with iraq, iran, turkey, syria and much of the world against them, could this referendum end up delivering the kurds even less than the autonomy that they enjoy now? masrour barzani, in erbil, in iraqi

kurdistan, thank you for being here. how has this referendum made things better for the kurds? as you know, we have been having problems with baghdad all along and we have tried every other means to make sure resolve problems peacefully but u nfortu nately resolve problems peacefully but unfortunately the iraqi government did not address all the issues according to the constitution and they were not actually accepting us as equal partners, as part of our deal to be part of iraq and, after trying all other avenues, we have no

choice but to resort to a referendum isa choice but to resort to a referendum is a democratic process and is a peaceful means to express their desire for our people about the future relationships between kurdistan and baghdad. you are ready have a high degree of autonomy, for the best part of 20 years, why it referendum now? actually, the desire for having independence for kurdistan dates back almost a century. u nfortu nately, kurdistan dates back almost a century. unfortunately, we have been treated unjustly all along and we do not think that autonomy by itself is enough to protect the rights of our people, as we have seen in the past, we have always been subject to threats, to atrocities, to attacks against our people, we have been subject to genocide, chemical

bombardment, and we need to have some sort of international guarantee say that these atrocities in the past will not be repeated in the future... just want to be clear about this. you are not accusing the current government of that but saint what happened in the past that happened in the future? starting from 2003, after topping the previous regime, we hoped there would have been a new era, with this new government. we participated voluntarily to go into baghdad and to call it a country for all of us. we ratified the constitution. we believed this constitution would be fully implemented but as it is known to everybody, this constitution was not implemented fully but actually the governments of baghdad were very selective in implementing articles that served their purpose and what

ever was part of the package to satisfy the kurdish side actually we re satisfy the kurdish side actually were ignored. we tried very hard to make sure we solve all problems peacefully but it did not happen so, yes, the regime has changed but, u nfortu nately, we yes, the regime has changed but, unfortunately, we have seen the mentality of rules in baghdad is moving away from democratic principles and from power—sharing and moving into more of a sectarian regime that is excluded not wholly dark earth but the sunnis and this is what concerns us. —— not only is the kurds. just before the result was declared, prime minister haider al—abadi declared they would impose oi’ al—abadi declared they would impose orare al—abadi declared they would impose or are cruel with all the force of the constitution. that constitution,

that you signed up to, does not allow you to unilaterally hold referendum to declare independence and a sense having emboldened the right to take back from the some of the things you have taken from them. you have challenged iraq. you clearly do not care about the rest of the country. you cannot really expect any other reaction, can you? we ratified the constitution, the whole constitution and notjust some articles that baghdad chooses to use that serves their purpose. 0ne articles that baghdad chooses to use that serves their purpose. one of the reasons why we called for the referendum is because of the violation of 55 articles of the constitution which have given us 55 reasons why we should actually conduct these referendum. isn't this robin, here have irritated and annoyed baghdad that perhaps that does not bother you— you have

achieved some quite remarkable unification of your neighbours, syria, turkey, iran, against you. an alliance that many would have thought impossible, throwing uncertainty of the most unsettled regions on the planet. exactly. you see the rich environment in which we live and how much we are threatened by decision of these neighbouring countries and... let me start by saying, if you just give me a second, let me explain this. we have conducted referendum in iraqi kurdistan and this is one of the most democratic, peaceful means of expressing our desire. we live in the 21st century of and it is strange that we cannot have the freedom of expression. we basically

told they did what our people want. it has a lesbian baghdad pushing us, telling us we do not represent the entire kurdish population, that the kurds are divided and this is given a legitimate mandate to negotiate with baghdad. we have not declared independence but have expressed our desire... let me be clear about this because a lot of people listening would not know what the question was. he wanted the kurdistan region outside the administration and become an independent state? there the reason no mandate. it is a direct challenge to the future of iraq isa direct challenge to the future of iraq is a country and, furthermore, by your use of language, it is not surprising that in tehran and ankara they are worried that you want there

kurds as well. this is an iraqi issues and are do not think iraqi neighbours should intervene and the international community should not allow the other countries to intervene. people have voted for independence and this is a right enshrined in the un charter so there is nothing wrong about people calling for the way that they want to live in their own country. the referendum obviously was voted by almost 93% of the kurdish people, overwhelmingly voting for independence but the point is we have not declared independence and we have said before and after the referendum, we want to have a legitimate mandate to speak with baghdad and solve our problems peacefully. in terms of the territories you're talking about, currently outside the kurdistan

region and government, these areas, let's not forget, are the ones systematically used by the previous iraqi regime, where kurds have been deported from and replaced by other areas so we claiming those areas is... actually goes back to the rise of isis. it was isis that threaten kurdistan, that occupied part of iraqi land and it was the failure of the writing government to protect the writing government to protect the people in those regions which is forced defence otherwise they would have fallen into the hands of isis. going back to those areas, a referendum does not... it really has not said it will decide on the fate of the region and define the boundaries between kurdistan and

iraq and we would have to negotiate with baghdad according to article 140 of the constitution which the iraqi government did not implement. recep tayyip erdogan speaking on the 30th of september said the call for independence would leave a bleeding wound and went further by saying you are they going to sell their oil to? turkey has been quite a good friend of iraqi kurdistan. if we close their valve their income is close. we may arrive and saint turkey controls an important supply — 20% of your revenue of oil surprise — it goes through a line under turkish controlled in the mediterranean, they do that and you are in real trouble, aren't you ? they do that and you are in real trouble, aren't you? i do not know what has changed. since 1991, kurdistan has been a defective independent state after the

constitution was ratified in the thousand three, in the thousand five, excuse me, the iraqi government has used all those exclusive rights against kurdistan... i talking about turkey now. kurdistan... i talking about turkey 110w. . . . kurdistan... i talking about turkey now. ... exactly. yes. we kurdistan... i talking about turkey now. exactly. yes. we were surprised and do not understand why so much over reaction by turkey and other neighbours. in fact, even in the iraqi government. we have not conducted the referendum to complicate issues. in fact we believe the referendum is one of the only remaining solutions to solve all problems with baghdad properly and address all these problems that are actually real. we cannot be delusional thinking there are no problems and everything is fine. 0bviously, what has pushed us that the referendum is because there are certain problems that we have with the country was that we have no

intention of animosity with turkey, iran and we are very surprised by the disproportionate measures taken against our people. you have drained the diplomatic equivalent of a hand grenade in one of the most unsettled regions in the planet. do you really think it would not send shockwaves through the borders? were surprised they would not express the wheel of 3 million people, expressing the how they want to live in this country. we are never going to enforce all wheel on any government or any country and have left the doors open to negotiations and a peaceful solution. if others are closing the doors are not willing to talk to us peacefully and to reach any solution, then i think they should be the ones to be blamed for the consequences which they are

responsible. you have talked passionately already in this interview about the commitment and the sacrifice of the peshmerga, a key pa rt the sacrifice of the peshmerga, a key part against the group that calls itself islamic state. how do you think the fight against that organisation is going? peshmerga have been in the forefront of defeating isis while the rest of the world were praising peshmerga it was iraqi government that objected to providing the heavy equipment to the peshmerga to win this war against ice is much quicker and it was at a time when we needed financial support, when we were finding a comment enemy, while we were also hosting 1.8 million. we were hoping

the international and iraq community would come to support. now that they are talking about how freely and democratically they want to shape their future relationship with baghdad, we are once again coming under attack while the international community is very absent and silent and, infact, theirsilence community is very absent and silent and, in fact, their silence has an old and and encourage neighbouring countries to take harsh measures against our people. —— and boldon. not entirely silent, are they? rex tillerson said that extremist groups are seeking to exploit and tomic instability and discord. we urge our iraqi opponents to remain focused on defeating is before they start focusing on holding referendums about whether the east remain part of iraq. you are right, that is in the sense that some of them opposed even the referendum which is a very

democratic process. in another way they were supporting in indirectly a sectarian government against the democratic process. now, in terms of fighting isis, we have always said we are committed to fighting isis. we believe we are an active member of the coalition against terrorism, against isis, and we will continue to do so. so couldn't the referendum have waited until that process was complete? absolutely not. well, the referendum has nothing to do with our commitment to fight isis. in fa ct, our commitment to fight isis. in fact, when we fought isis, our relationship with baghdad was not the force behind driving us to fight and defeat isis. it was our determination, it was the result of our people, that fought isis. so even at this moment we are ready to fight terrorism as long as it takes, and we don't think that political relations between erbil and baghdad will have any negative effect on the war, and we have made that very clear to the coalition forces, we have made that clear to baghdad, and

in fact we have shown a readiness to work with the iraqi security forces to fight against isis. after the referendum, the occupation happened and we saw that there was no negative effects of the referendum on that operation. what have you said to the americans, because they seem very displeased at the decision to hold this referendum? mr rex tillerson, the secretary of state and donald trump's administration, says the us will continue to support a united federal democratic and prosperous iraq, in other words, not an independent iraqi kurdistan. well, we are very disappointed in that statement as well, because this is the expression of the will and the desire of the nation, of how they want to live. we don't think that it they want to live. we don't think thatitis they want to live. we don't think that it is right to impose any sort of mechanism or systems against people that in fact has not been even respected. we had a constitution, we wanted to be a part of this government, we wanted to be a part of this country, but

u nfortu nately a part of this country, but unfortunately this government and the government before that, i mean, they've moved away from implementing they've moved away from implementing the constitution, and respecting the commitment. 0k, the constitution, and respecting the commitment. ok, i think the constitution, and respecting the commitment. 0k, ithink you the constitution, and respecting the commitment. ok, i think you have made that point several times. i only interrupted because i am conscious of time and i want to cover some ground. i just conscious of time and i want to cover some ground. ijust want conscious of time and i want to cover some ground. i just want to conscious of time and i want to cover some ground. ijust want to be clear about this. were you expecting a different response from washington? you must have given warning that you were planning to do this. you have very good legs, not least with intelligence for example the cia. you have very good links with the administration. were you saying them, look it is going to be fine? were they saying to you, don't do this? were they apparently relaxed about you having this referendum, or at least did you think they were? we expected that at least they should support peaceful talks between us and baghdad before and after the referendum. it was the iraqi government, the iraqi prime minister before the referendum, who said that they are not to accept referendum now or in the future. that left us no choice but actually to resort back to the will of our people, to say what exactly they

want. so we are also... yes, we are disappointed in the position of the international community, and also the united states has taken, opposing the referendum. what we did not expect is opposing the referendum. now, even if they did not want to support the referendum, they could have stayed neutral, or at least encouraged baghdad and erbil to sit around the table and to sort out their problems peacefully. this hasn't happened, and in fact, this opposition has emboldened baghdad to take such measures. and in fact, even to reach out to their neighbouring countries, to put a watabe on kurdistan and to collectively punish the people of kurdistan. —— blockade on kurdistan. let me put you what michael rippon said at the beginning of the month. he said with so many millions of dollars spent lobbying, how could they get so much wrong about american policy? you have been cheek to cheek for so long they have been so supportive of you, you have been warm towards washington, you help them over iraq, the fall of saddam

hussein, you have helped them in the fight against islamic state. how could the communication have got so poor between you that you walk into what now looks like a trap, where your back is against the wall, where your back is against the wall, where you have no significant international support? we have never said that the united states should choose between us or baghdad. we have said that they could keep baghdad if they can. and also to have us as their friends. we still believe that we are very good friends of the united states. we are up friends of the united states. we are up appreciated, and we are great doormat very grateful to have all the support that the united states has provided us, and by the same token, all the coalition members that have supported us in this fight against isis. so we don't believe that our referendum should be, you know, should give any reason to the americans or to the rest of the international community to take an opposition side against us. we still believe that they can play a more constructive role in terms of supporting both baghdad and erbil to

engage in a constructive dialogue, rather than taking sides, and actually giving room for escalation. which unfortunately nobody is going to benefit from it. so, in terms of preventing war or destruction or instability, we believe that it is time to the international community, and before all of them the united states, to actively get engaged and encourage both baghdad and erbil to talk, rather than escalating tension, as baghdad is actually doing right now. there was another vote scheduled, and that was supposed to happen in november. that is the presidential election. your father, of course, is president, he has been so since the summer of 2009. is that election going to go ahead as scheduled, or has the controversy ahead as scheduled, or has the co ntrove rsy over ahead as scheduled, or has the controversy over the referendum force that to be delayed? we are fully supportive of the elections to be held on time, yes. if your father

has delivered the codes international isolation and conflict with baghdad, can he win?|j international isolation and conflict with baghdad, can he win? i don't think that it is a personal issue. i think that it is a personal issue. i think our president has basically did what our people want to —— kurds. he left the choice to the people. so this is the choice of the kurdish people, not just people. so this is the choice of the kurdish people, notjust a single person. and 93% of the kurdish people voted on this referendum to say yes to the independents. so this has been, all along, the choice of people and notjust the president. the problem is what sort of independence they would get, isn't it? is your region really capable of being a nation? notjust because of those threats internationally to turn off the oil exports so you can't raise the money you need, not just for the fact that, what, a fifth of your population is dependent on the public payroll, so if baghdad stops sending the money up if baghdad stops sending the money up from the city up to you, you won't be able to pay those people, but also, to quote the economist

last month, the local economy is a shambles, despite president massoud barzani's appropriation of kirkuk. they receive half the pay of those in the rest of iraq. it is not much ofa in the rest of iraq. it is not much of a basis on which the former nation, is it? well, look anime, we are doomed to live in a neighbourhood where unfortunately we are landlocked. but that doesn't mean that our people cannot freely express how they want to live in the future we don't believe that our referendum, or the results of the referendum, or the results of the referendum, are to challenge the neighbouring countries, nor iraq. we have looked at this referendum as a solution. to reach a solution with baghdad, we believe that our peaceful relationship with baghdad and with the neighbouring countries is going to be in the best interests of the entire region. it is our lack of the entire region. it is our lack of understanding of our intention, and our will, and not accepting us as equal partners in this part of the world, that has created this tension. it is not ourfault. we are

actually calling for a solution. we are actually calling for a peaceful settle m e nt are actually calling for a peaceful settlement with baghdad. but baghdad is refraining from talking with us, and resorting to legitimacy of the constitution, or the reason, the rationale, resorting to violence and threatening us that they are going to ta ke threatening us that they are going to take over kurdistan by the use of force, is to create indication that they actually are not accepting us as equal partners, and they are not actually looking at the stability of this region. so you know, once again, let me set the record straight. we have no intention of hostility or complicating the already complicated and complex situation here in the middle east. we believe that, by understanding and accepting each other, and talking to each other, and reaching a solution that is desirable by all sides, is the only way forward. and this is what we intend to do. this

is where we stand as we speak. masrour barzani, in erbil, iraqi kurdistan, thank you for talking to us on kurdistan, thank you for talking to us on hardtalk. well, thank you. hello, good morning. the weather is much, much quieter now. it is actually turning chilly out there, under the clearer skies. but, for a while on wednesday, we had severe weather in cumbria. heavy cloud, low cloud as well, producing a lot of rain, feeding into the rivers as the water drained down from higher ground. and it was in the highest ground that we had some of the heaviest rain. honister, for example, over 200mm of rain falling in about 24 hours. the rain was quite localised, but heavy for a while on a thicker, a more active weather front.

but, as that swept south eastwards, so the cloud thinned and narrowed, and the front weakened. we're into a bit of a flat ridge, if you like, for today as this deepening low pressure is waiting in the wings by the end of the week. but a quieter day on thursday. a little bit chilly out there in the morning, one or two mist patches in the south. but a lot of dry weather, and some sunshine too. as you had further north, though, the winds are that bit stronger in scotland and northern ireland in particular. and there will be more cloud here from the word go, and a few showers, mainly around the highlands and islands. the heaviest showers for the northern isles. now, the winds are going to be quite gusty and scotland, and picking up in northern ireland, too. they'll always keep a bit more cloud around here from time to time. the threat of rain in the far north—west, perhaps. some patchy cloud developing in england and wales,

but more sunshine than we had yesterday. slightly fresher air, but temperatures will be very similar to what we had on wednesday, and it should be a decent day for most of us. but those weather systems arrive in the north—west overnight, thickening the cloud, bringing outbreaks of rain, and the winds will be picking up, as well. the wettest weather always going to be over the hills. more rain over western scotland pushing into cumbria, perhaps north wales. further south and east, get some sunshine and those temperatures are going to be close to 20 degrees. quite warm air across much of the uk, and as we head into the weekend, we're going to draw up some warmer air from iberia, from biscay, into some central, southern parts of the uk. quite a difference in temperature, as you can see. either side of that weather front which, which having moved southwards, is going to start to move northwards again on saturday, and initially, not much rain on that at all. a band of cloud, drizzly rain over the hills it may turn wet in the north—west later in the day. but warming up to the south, and those temperatures getting up to 19, 20 degrees. some heavier rain continues, though, in the north—west of the uk, northern ireland, and over the hills

of western scotland. so not quite as warm here, but further south, get some sunshine, and particularly in the south—east, and it could be 22 or 23. this is bbc news. i'm david eades. our top stories: the wildfires rage on in california — the death toll mounts and authorities fear things are about to get worse. there's a torrent of further accusations in the harvey weinstein scandal, as new york police now pursue claims of rape and sexual assault. riot officers restore order at a uk high—security prison, after reports dozens of inmates attacked staff. and i'm sally bundock, with business news. virtual reality check. it's "the next big thing" that never quite took off. so can facebook‘s new gadget finally bring vr to the masses? plus, the art of ditching the deal. could president trump's new strategy on iran mean the return of us sanctions? we get the views of

an iranian investor.