Authorities shut down Waad, a leftist party aligned with the largest opposition group Wefaq, in April amid a crackdown by security forces on anti-government protests.

Waad spokesman Radhi Al-Mousawi said the government would lift the ban on its headquarters in Manama and later on its office Muharraq.

The state news agency BNA quoted the Justice Ministry as saying steps were being taken to lift the ban.

Mousawi said the group had sent a statement to the government welcoming the political dialogue, set by King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa to begin on July 1, and also asked for the king to look into the case of Waad’s detained leader.

Ibrahim Sharif is in prison along with several other opposition leaders including the president of the Al-Haq party, Hassan Mushaimaa.

Both are among 21 people facing trial on charges of plotting a coup with backing from “foreign terrorist groups.”

Bahraini opposition activists said Waad had been under pressure to welcome the national dialogue in return for an end to the ban.

Both Wefaq and Waad have stopped short of saying they will join the talks. Some Wefaq members have said they are wary of taking part because of reports that dozens of groups will be invited.

Government supporters say groups that are not political parties should attend to represent Bahrainis who are not politicized.

The opposition argues it will dilute their voice in negotiations.

Sheikh Ali Salman, head of Wefaq, told crowds in a rally of over 10,000 people on Friday that too many groups would “be a social gathering, not a political dialogue.”