The home side had gone ahead through captain Abdulraheem Juma's strike after 19 minutes and could have extended that advantage but for some poor finishing.

They were made to pay for their lack of cutting edge in the closing stages when Bagheri headed a Masoud Shojaei cross into the net - a goal that moves Iran to the top of Group Two, ahead of tonight's fixture between Saudi Arabia and South Korea, on five points from three games.

The point for UAE, while their first of the campaign, will do little for morale after their boss, Dominique Bathenay, spoke in the lead-up to the game about the importance of winning.

Their hopes of qualifying for South Africa 2010 now look slim as they remain marooned at the bottom of the group with just one point from four games.

A draw was an unlikely result following a bright start from the home team that earned just reward when Juma netted after 19 minutes.

The UAE captain played a neat one-two with Ismaeil Matar before rifling a right-footed shot past Seyed Mahdi Rahmati.

Chances continued to fall UAE's way and Rahmati had to be alert to divert Nawaf Mubarak's powerful free-kick away for a corner.

The keeper again came to Iran's rescue moments later when he blocked Al Hammadi's shot from inside the area before Mubarak blasted another good chance over the crossbar.

Bathenay's side continued to dominate play after the interval with Matar forcing another save from Rahmati while Mubarak sent a shot, this time on the volley, over the crossbar.

Iran had been off the pace for the majority of the game but indicated they were capable of finding an equaliser when Masoud Shojaei's 76th-minute free-kick forced Majed Nasser to tip the ball over the crossbar.

At the other end UAE passed up another opportunity when substitute striker Ahmed Khalil could only shoot straight at Rahmati when well placed.

Their inability to find a second goal was then punished 10 minutes from time when Bagheri met Shojaei's left-wing cross before directing his powerful header low past Majed Nasser.