The New Jersey man charged with stabbing famed novelist Salman Rushdie had been in direct contact with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on social media prior to Friday’s attack, according to a report.

Hadi Matar, 24, had communicated with “people either directly involved with or adjacent to” the Revolutionary Guard’s external operations force, Vice reported, citing a Middle Eastern intelligence official.

Other security officials cited by the outlet wouldn’t elaborate on the nature of Matar’s reported contact with the Revolutionary Guard, including who initiated the contact or when it took place.

Hadi Matar, 24, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and assault charges in Friday’s stabbing attack on Salman Rushdie in western New York.