Luis Enrique's men were returning to the ground where they were thrashed 4-0 in the first leg of the Super Cup just nine days ago.
They were also without the suspended Gerard Pique, while Neymar wasn't fit to take part after just returning to training following a bout of the mumps.
The game burst into life when referee Carlos del Cerro Grande controversially pointed to the spot when Suarez went down under a challenge from Gorka Elustondo.
However, Messi failed to open the scoring from the resulting spot-kick as Iraizoz dived to his right to make a brilliant save.
The Argentine has now missed five penalties for club and country in the past year and failed to find the net in 14 of the 63 penalties he has taken for Barca.
Iraizoz produced an even better stop moments later to prevent Suarez sweeping home Sergi Roberto's cross to ensure Athletic went in level at the break.
The Uruguayan wasn't to be denied just eight minutes into the second-half, though, as he connected sweetly on his left-foot with Jordi Alba's cross.
However, the visitors suffered another injury blow when Sergio Busquets was stretchered off with an ankle problem and were left hanging on with a makeshift back four.
Ibai Gomez had the Basques' best chance to equalise 10 minutes from time, but he blasted over when the ball fell invitingly inside the Barca box.
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