Iran has been accelerating the loading of oil onto tankers in recent days, possibly as a precaution against a potential U.S. attack. According to Kpler data, exports from Khorrassan Island totaled nearly 20.1 million barrels between February 15 and 20. This is nearly three times the volume loaded during the same period in January, equating to over 3 million barrels per day—far exceeding Iran’s typical daily export levels. Oil production and exports are key pillars of Iran’s economy, and loading oil onto tankers will allow Iran to release as much production as possible before any potential disruptions occur. Samir Madani, co-founder of Tanker Trackers.com, said it is unclear what will happen to the ships loaded this time, but if the U.S. ultimately launches an attack, they will likely be widely dispersed.