In her tiny shop on Istanbul’s European side, Maryam Seda, bleached blonde hair hanging in a plait over her shoulder, busies herself arranging bags of walnuts, pickled garlic and sugar crystals on the shelves.

Three years ago she emigrated to Turkey, where she runs a company selling Iranian delicacies to fellow expats. Business is good. Last year 30,000 Iranians fled to Turkey, escaping the US sanctions that have crippled the economy.

This month thousands took to the streets of Iran to protest about a rise in petrol prices. Amnesty International reported that 106 people had been killed as the security services moved in to crush the rebellion. Iran dismissed the figure as “disinformation”.

Middle-class Iranians are flooding into Turkey, one of a handful of countries