Over the last six years, Iranian restaurants, shops and travel agencies have sprung up along the streets of Georgia’s capital. Iranians had viewed Georgia as a soft way around sanctions and also as a place to taste a more Western lifestyle. And Georgia, in turn, had welcomed the tourists and businessmen from Iran, even dropping visa restrictions in 2011 before, under US pressure, re-imposing them two years later.

Like the rest of the South Caucasus region, Iran wants to expand and strengthen its relations with Georgia. Now, with sanctions on Iran being lifted earlier this year, Georgia’s government said this month that it had lifted visa rules.

Iranians, with their distinct hair- styles and tighter, more colourful clothes compared to the dowdy black favoured by Georgians, an increasingly frequent sight in Georgia.

Most welcomed improved ties between Georgia and Iran.

Sahar, a 40-year-old Iranian living in Tbilisi was working in a bar.

“The visa free regime is a first step in strengthening regional cooperation, and was initiated by president Rouhani. He thinks it’s important that life of its citizens living outside of Iran is not difficult. And he sees it as a first step in increased economic relations,” she said between pouring glasses of beer for her customers.

Sahar, who applied for refugee status a year ago, is happy about the developments said that she had been living in Georgia for three years and that relaxing the visa system would increase the amount if Iranians travelling to Georgia.

“Tbilisi is similar, architecturally, to Tehran, I feel at home. But at least here I can be myself, be free,” she said. “My friends feel the same, a lot of them are talking about visiting Georgia for a few months, to breath, to get some air.”