Iran has lifted the ban on al-Jazeera news network after its officials apologized for airing a controversial program insulting Shia clergy.

Director of Foreign Media Department at Iran's Ministry of Culture Mohsen Moqaddas Zadeh made the announcement on Monday.

"The channel is allowed to resume both its Arabic and English services in Tehran after it officially apologized to Iran and made some changes at managerial level," he was quoted by Mehr news agency as saying.

The Iranian official expressed hope that the channel would change its policies to further strengthen Islamic unity and avert attempts to undermine solidarity among Muslims.

Iran suspended al-Jazeera's activities in response to a talk show called "Without Borders" on 6 May, whose host insulted Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, one of the most revered Shia senior clerics in Iraq.

MRJ/RE