The visitors surged into a commanding advantage after just four minutes thanks to goals from Alireza Vahedi Nikbakht and Seyed Jalal Hosseini.

But the hosts hit back seven minutes from half-time when Ahmed Ajab reduced the deficit.

And Kuwait netted a vital equaliser with just nine minutes remaining, substitute Fahad Al Rashidi heading home.

Kuwait's delight was tempered slightly, however, by the stoppage-time dismissal of Mesaed Nada, who was sent off for a bad tackle on Ebrahim Sadeghisenjani.

The visitors came flying out of the traps and opened the scoring after just 90 seconds when Nikbakht took Hosseini's free-kick on his chest before acrobatically hooking the ball past Kuwait goalkeeper Khaled Al Fadhli.

Hosseini doubled the lead himself shortly afterwards, his speculative free-kick eluding Al Fadhli and drifting into the net.

Kuwait finally stirred and Jarrah Al Ataiqi, Ajab and Hussein Fadel all came close before the hosts did get on the scoresheet when Ajab intercepted Hosseini's weak headed back-pass and slotted past Iran keeper Seyed Mehdi Rahmati.

Bader Al Mutawa's shot cannoned back off the post after 58 minutes as Kuwait surged forward in search of an equaliser.

They thought they had got it with 13 minutes to go but Al Rashidi's effort was disallowed for offside.

However, he was not to be denied and four minutes later dragged the hosts level by heading home Mohamad Jarragh's cross from the left.