A process is described for reactivating agglomerated iridium-containing catalysts such as Pt-Ir on Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 reforming catalyst. The agglomerated catalyst is decoked to remove carbon deposits; treated with hydrogen to reduce metal oxides to the free metals; pretreated with hydrogen halide to provide at least about a 1.3 weight percent halide content; and treated with a low mass flow rate of chlorine of about one gram chlorine per 100 grams catalyst per hour. Use of a low mass halogen flow rate significantly retards ferrous metal corrosion and significantly reduces the quantity of chlorine normally used in achieving high redispersion values.