The Wall Street Journal reported that about 20 Iranian empty oil tankers have been stranded within 15 miles of the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka, and that while they have been keeping their engines idling to save 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 restored 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 to them.

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