Intelligence briefings on U.S. relations with Iran Tuesday left Democrats in both the Senate and the House unsure of what the Trump administration’s objectives are following recent heightened tensions in the Middle East.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, along with acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan, briefed lawmakers on their strategic campaign to push back against what he called “Iran’s malign activity” and described the country as participating in 40 years of terrorist activity.

“We still don’t have a clear understanding of what the administration’s objectives are,” said Rep. Adam Smith, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. “They have said over and over again that regime change is not the objective. What is this maximum pressure campaign trying to achieve?” the Washington Democrat asked.

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump sent a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group and a bomber group to the Middle East to quell new threats to the U.S. in that region.

Pompeo stressed, in a press conference with reporters, that he and Shanahan briefed lawmakers on U.S. goals to deter future attacks.