Sri Lanka, Oct. 2 -- Around 20 empty Iranian oil tankers are currently stranded off Sri Lanka's southwest coast as local authorities enforce US sanctions warnings.

The revelation is made by a new report by The Wall Street Journal.

The vessels are drifting in international waters with idled engines as onboard supplies of food, fuel, and fresh water run dangerously low.

The report states that the standoff follows direct pressure from Washington.

In August, the US Embassy in Colombo alerted the Sri Lankan government to nearly 20 Iranian tankers operating off the western coast, warning that local firms providing provisions or services could face severe secondary sanctions.

In response, Sri Lanka's Port Authority advised that servicing Ir...