The Director of the National Counterterrorism Center told a Senate committee that the U.S. “remain vigilant regarding Iran’s efforts to build operational capability against U.S.-based organisations and people”, adding: “protecting against such threats is even more important now, as Iran, its agents, and proxies plan ways to retaliate against the U.S. for the January 2020 killing of IRGC-QF Commander Qassem Soleimani”. She went on to indicate that “Iran and aligned groups probably carry out asymmetric and covert attacks to reduce U.S. influence and the U.S. presence in the region, advising both its state allies and proxies”.