The Wall Street Journal reported that about 20 Iranian empty oil tankers are left adrift within 15 miles of the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka, and that while they have kept their engines idling to conserve fuel, their supplies of food, fuel, and fresh water are running out.

According to the report, dozens of Iranian oil tankers or those linked to the Islamic Republic that played a role in transporting sanctioned oil to China have been trapped in waters near Sri Lanka and Malaysia since July, at the same time as the United States reimposed the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

In recent weeks, the United States has asked Sri Lanka to prevent services from being provided to these tankers and has warned local companies about the risk of secondary sanctions if they supply fuel and provisions for them.

The Wall Street Journal wrote that food and fresh water supplies on one of these tankers have been declining, and a Sri Lankan shipping company has also received emergency requests to send food and other essential items to the tankers.