The U.S. campaign to rein in Iran has scored a victory in the German financial sector, after the Deutsche Bundesbank− the country’s central bank− imposed a rule stopping a $400 million cash delivery to Tehran.

Iran's cash-starved economy desperately needs hard currency ahead of crippling U.S. bank sanctions that will be introduced in November.

Germany allows the Iranian-owned European-Iranian trade bank (EIH) to operate in Hamburg. The EIH holds more than $400 million that Tehran wants to receive in cash ahead of a second wave of U.S. sanctions due in November that impact banks and Iran’s energy sector.

The Deutsche Bundesbank has cooperated with the EIH in the past to circumvent U.S. sanctions on Iran. The U.S. and the European Union previously sanctioned the EIH for its role in advancing Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. The sanctions on the EIH were lifted after the world powers reached an agreement to curb Iran's nuclear program in 2015.

But President Trump effectively tore up the “decaying and rotten” deal in May and vowed to impose greater sanctions on the regime.

The disclosure in July that German Chancellor Angela Merkel's government was seeking to circumvent the pending sanctions triggered the U.S. ambassador to Germany to urge her government to stop the massive payment transfer.

“We are grateful to our German partners for recognizing the need to act.

Iran’s malign activities throughout Europe are a growing concern,” Richard Grenell, the U.S. ambassador to Berlin, told FoxNews.com. Grenell, a former Fox News contributor, led the campaign to persuade German authorities to prevent the cash transfer.

Automobile manufacturer Mercedes-Benz announced on Tuesday that it had frozen all business with Iran due “to applicable sanctions.” The first wave of U.S. sanctions kicked in on Tuesday and will impact Iran’s automobile sector, as well as trade in precious metals.

Sportswear giant Adidas meanwhile followed the lead of its U.S. competitor Nike and pulled the plug on its business with Iran.

Adidas said in a statement last week that it will not extend commercial agreements with Iran's soccer association. Iran's state- controlled media reported that Adidas withdrew from Iran's market because it fears damage to its business in the U.S.

Peter Kohanloo, the president of the U.S.-based Iranian American Majority organization, told FoxNews.com: “Germany, France and the UK always talk about human rights and democracy, but by resisting more sanctions, they’re actively opposing a growing revolution inside Iran to replace one of the most egregious human rights violating dictatorships in the world.

“Germany is making a huge mistake by injecting much-needed cash into the mullahs’ resistance economy as they murder Iranian protesters.” (FoxNews)

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