Triple-champions Iran survived a scare against the Uzbeks in Kuala Lumpur as they kicked off their drive for a first Asian Cup title in 31 years.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mehdi Mostafavi expressed the hope that the nuclear standoff between his country and the West would be ended during the current visit to Tehran by a delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki here on Wednesday dismissed the Zionist regime’s invitation to the Iranian Jews to leave their homeland for the occupied territories.