Bolton: Just 3 days left to strike Bushehr

JERUSALEM, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton said Tuesday he sees no sign President Obama will OK an Israeli strike on Iran's Bushehr reactor.

Bolton, in an interview with Israel Radio, also said Israel has three days to hit the plant. Russia plans to begin the fueling process for the reactor Saturday.

"It has always been optimal that military force is used before the fuel rods are inserted," Bolton said. "That's what Israel did in Osirak in 1991, and when they attacked the North Korean reactor built in Syria (in 2007)."

Bolton said it's critical to stop Iran from going nuclear but he said he sees no sign Israel is gearing up to take out Bushehr, The Jerusalem Post reported. He also criticized Russia for agreeing to fuel the reactor to play "both sides against the middle."

Iranian nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi told IRNA earlier Tuesday a strike on Bushehr would have international implications.