Ray McGovern, a prominent former CIA analyst, says US President George W. Bush is planning to wage a military attack on Iran this year.

McGovern who has been a CIA officer under seven US presidents--presenting the morning intelligence briefings at the White House for many of them--believes President Bush and his administration have no intention of leaving Iraq and are preparing to attack Iran in the next few months.

"I believe George Bush and Dick Cheney plan to take care of Iran before they leave office," the former CIA official said in an interview with Charleston Gazette, which was published on Wednesday.

McGovern also pointed to the US-led war in Iraq and said that the war had several motives, including giving a "rebuke" to Saddam Hussein, supporting Israel, controlling oil reserves and expanding permanent US military bases in the Middle East.

He also praised Navy Adm. William J. Fallon, the former commander of the US Central Command. Fallon was forced out shortly after Esquire magazine published a profile of his career that highlighted his strong opposition to any war with Iran and his desire to reduce troop levels in Iraq.

"Fallon was our last hope," McGovern said.