TAIPEI, March 10 (Reuters) - The United States has not approached Taiwan about transfers of weapons to the Middle East, Defence Minister Wellington Koo said on Tuesday, after South Korea said it was in talks about the possible redeployment of some U.S. Patriot missile systems.

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said on Friday the U.S. and South Korean militaries are discussing the possible redeployment of some U.S. Patriot missile defence systems based in South Korea to be used in the war against Iran.

SEOUL, March 10 (Reuters) - South Korea President Lee Jae Myung said on Tuesday that his country could not stop U.S. forces in Korea from shipping some weapons out of the Asian country, but that it would not impact deterrence against North Korea.

"It appears that there is a controversy recently over U.S. Forces in Korea shipping some weapons out of the country," Lee said, noting while Seoul had expressed opposition it was not in a position to make demands.

By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON, March 9 (Reuters) - Six Democrats in the U.S. Senate on Monday said they are embarking on an intensified campaign for public hearings on the Iran war, with top Trump administration officials testifying under oath and to take steps to interrupt regular Senate business if Republicans resist.

Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey told reporters that the senior Democrats on the Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees have made the requests to Republican chairmen James Risch and Roger Wicker, respectively.

By Samia Nakhoul

DUBAI, March 10 (Reuters)- - Iran is wagering it can outlast the United States and Israel--not militarily, but by grinding the war into a brutal contest of endurance. Its strategy is stark: Unleash drones and missiles, cut vital energy routes and jolt global markets hard enough to force Washington to blink first.

By David Brunnstrom

March 9 (Reuters) - Despite what it called a humanitarian "disaster" in Afghanistan, the U.S. said on Monday international assistance to the country should be evaluated, given Taliban "intransigence" and its exclusion of the female population from basic rights.

By Jason Lange

WASHINGTON, March 9 (Reuters) - Most Americans think gasoline prices are going to rise in coming months following President Donald Trump's decision to launch military strikes on Iran, and many expect a protracted conflict, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that closed on Monday.

By Nandita Bose and Bo Erickson

DORAL, Florida, March 9 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday told reporters he had a "very good call" with Russian President Vladimir Putin about Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East.

"There's tremendous hatred between President Putin and (Ukraine's) President Zelenskiy. They can't seem to get it together, but I think it was a positive call on that subject," Trump said.

Trump added that Putin "wants to be helpful" with the Iran conflict.

DORAL, Florida, March 9 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he was "disappointed" that Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his slain father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as the supreme leader of the country.

"We think it's going to lead to just more of the same problem for the country," Trump told reporters at a press conference in Florida.

When asked whether the new leader had a target on his back, Trump said it would be "inappropriate" to say whether or not he does.

(Reporting by Nandita Bose and Ryan Patrick Jones)

SYDNEY, March 10 (Reuters) - Australia will deploy a military surveillance aircraft to the Middle East and send missiles to the United Arab Emirates but will not put troops on the ground in Iran, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday.

Australia's military support would help the Gulf countries defend themselves against unprovoked attacks from Iran, Albanese said, stressing Australia was "not a protagonist".

By Kanishka Singh

March 9 (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani on Monday about avoiding a wider conflict in the Middle East, Carney's office said.

Here are some details:

• They "underscored the importance of intensifying diplomatic engagement to avoid a wider conflict with global consequences," Carney's office said in a statement.

• The statement said the leaders condemned Iranian missile and drone attacks on Qatar and Carney expressed Canada's solidarity with Qatar.