O’Brien said he thinks “the Iranians have realized they don’t want a military confrontation with the U.S. and that the maximum pressure campaign is not going to end.”

“Soleimani’s belief was he could end the maximum pressure campaign by going up an escalation ladder with the U.S., taking out drones, taking out Saudi refineries, taking ships and that sort of thing,” O’Brien added.

“I think those plays are over now. … I believe that the Iranians are standing down,” O’Brien said.