A tearful Iranian footballer appeared to be dragged onto a bus in chaotic scenes as protesters in Australia tried to stop the women's team from being forced home by the cruel regime.

Protesters 'rammed' the bus and temporarily prevented the squad from leaving their hotel on the Gold Coast on Tuesday afternoon after five members were granted humanitarian visas following an intervention by Donald Trump.

Players were seen making what appeared to be an 'SOS' hand signal, a closed fist with the thumb underneath the fingers, on their team bus after their Asian Cup campaign ended on Sunday night.

A group of players then escaped from their hotel on Monday night in a desperate bid to avoid returning to their war-torn country, where they faced persecution over their refusal to sing the Iranian national anthem.

Extra police will reportedly be stationed at Gold Coast Airport ready to assist any other team members who wish to seek asylum. 

As the Iranian team left their hotel one member appeared to be dragged onto the bus by a teammate before demonstrators, chanting 'save our girls', blocked the vehicle.

A police officer told the Daily Mail that one of the protesters supporting the team members had 'rammed' the bus.

The demonstrators were eventually dispersed and a Queensland Police convoy accompanied the bus to the airport.

In other dramatic developments: 

• US President Donald Trump threatened to bring 'death, fire and fury' down on Iran if it were to cut off the passage of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. 
• Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly announced that any Arab or European country that expels the ambassadors of the US and Israel will have 'full authority and freedom' to pass through the Strait of Hormuz
• Saudi Arabia's oil company warned markets face 'catastrophe' over the strait's disruption
• Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is 'not done yet' in Iran as its military is 'breaking the bones' of the Iranian regime
• Israel warned Lebanese residents to evacuate ahead of a fresh wave of strikes against Hezbollah 
• Massive airstrikes hit Tehran with 'unusually large' explosions after Trump vowed to end war 'very soon' 
• Emmanuel Macron has insisted Cyprus can 'count on France' as he rubbed salt in the wound of Britain's military embarrassment

The team later arrived at the back entrance to Gold Coast Airport, with police blocking one road that accessed the area and using a helicopter to monitor the situation, the ABC reported. 

The message which reportedly prompted the five footballers to seek asylum was relayed via contacts from one player's family in Iran. It read: 'You need to stay.'

Within hours of receiving the message, the players escaped the Royal Pines Resort and were moved to a safe location by Australian police.

Immigration Minister Tony Burke later confirmed the women had been granted humanitarian visas after urgent discussions between the players and Australian officials.

'They want to be clear they are not political activists. They are athletes who want to be safe,' Burke told News Corp.

The five women who sought protection are Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramazanzadeh and Mona Hamoudi.

While they are expected to remain in Australia under humanitarian protection, the fate of their teammates remains uncertain.

Australia had knocked back the visas of some officials, sources said, but there were concerns that handlers were coercing the remaining players to return to Iran and not apply for asylum.

The Home Affairs Department would not confirm how many visas were refused on security or character grounds, citing privacy restrictions.

'The Department of Home Affairs works with law enforcement and intelligence partners to cancel or refuse visas of non-citizens who are at risk to Australia's national security,' a spokesperson said in a statement.

Protesters outside the Royal Pines Resort on Tuesday were flying the Lion and Sun flag, which was Iran's national flag before the country's revolution in 1979.

Footage and photos from the scene show dozens of supporters gathered near the entrance as the vehicle attempted to leave under police supervision. 

At one point a man sat down directly in front of the bus in a bid to stop it from departing, forcing Queensland Police officers to intervene and move him away.

Another lay on the ground while adults and children stood and kneeled in the path of the vehicle with their hands raised, only to be moved on. 

Sources told the Daily Mail the team is scheduled to fly to Sydney tonight before leaving the country.

Activists warned that the decision facing the remaining players is an agonising one.

Many fear severe punishment if they return home, and are equally worried about the safety of their families if they remain overseas.  

The extraordinary chain of events began after the Iranian team refused to sing their national anthem before a match against South Korea earlier in the tournament.

The gesture was widely interpreted as a sign of protest against the regime back home.

Within days, the players were being fiercely criticised on Iranian state television, with one conservative commentator branding them 'wartime traitors' and calling for harsh punishment.

Supporters and activists quickly became concerned that the athletes could face severe repercussions if they returned to Iran.

Those fears only intensified as tensions in the Middle East escalated and reports emerged that players' families back home were being threatened.

Behind the scenes, members of Australia's Iranian community began quietly coordinating efforts to help the players if they decided to seek asylum.

Iranian-Australian councillor Tina Kordrostami travelled to the Gold Coast and met with several members of the team in the lobby of the hotel.

'I told them, "we have a plan for you. We are not going anywhere",' she said.

The players, however, remained deeply conflicted about whether to make the move, worried that their actions could place relatives in Iran at risk.

It was only after the message from home arrived urging them to remain in Australia that they made their decision.

Within hours the plan was put into motion. The group slipped out of the hotel and was quickly taken to a secure location by police.

Burke later revealed the decision to grant humanitarian visas was finalised early Tuesday morning.

He said the applications were signed off at about 1.30am.

'Australia has taken the Iranian women's soccer team into our hearts,' Burke said.

'These women are tremendously popular in Australia.'

The dramatic developments unfolded against a backdrop of emotional scenes during the tournament itself.

Hundreds of supporters surrounded the Iranian team bus after one match, chanting 'save our girls' and waving flags in solidarity with the players.

Activists say the team had been under intense scrutiny by officials travelling with the delegation.

Former Socceroos captain Craig Foster said the athletes faced serious pressure and could not freely speak with supporters.

'They've been held hostage by the Iranian team management in their hotel,' he said.

'They can't speak freely because they are threatened.'

US President Donald Trump also weighed in on the situation, urging Australia to grant asylum.

'Australia should give asylum,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. 'The US will take them if you won't.'

He later added he had spoken with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and that 'five have already been taken care of.'