When Saeed an Iranian businessman saw his imports of printing machines through Dubai dwindling, he moved to Turkey to survive and to bypasssanctions over Irans nuclear programme.
Escaping from tight Emirati customs security checks on any goods bound for Iran, as well as escalating hurdles on banking transactions and trading licence renewals, the importer opened an office in Istanbul in 2011.
The 42 year-old has so far managed to continue imports of machines and spare parts from a western country which he did not want to disclose to Lebanon or Belgium and then to Turkey, from where they can be re-exported to Iran.