Global shipping giant MSC announced Monday it was formally halting certain export shipments from the Gulf because of the Middle East war and that "all affected cargo will be discharged".

"In light of the ongoing and exceptional security situation in the Middle East... it is necessary to declare an 'End of Voyage' for certain export shipments" from Gulf ports, "whether located ashore or already onboard", MSC said in an advisory notice to customers.

Four years after world sport rushed to ban Russia for invading Ukraine, the leading governing bodies are reacting guardedly to the US-led attack on Iran, raising accusations of double standards.

Both wars broke out immediately after the end of a Winter Olympics -- and before the start of the subsequent Paralympics and ahead of a summer World Cup.

Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine four days after the closing ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Winter Games. US and Israeli bombs started falling on Iran six days after the flags came down on the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.

By Sam Tabahriti and Sarah Young

LONDON, March 9 (Reuters) - Britain wants major economies to agree to release emergency oil reserves as the escalating Iranian crisis sends energy prices soaring and increases the risk of higher inflation, finance minister Rachel Reeves said on Monday.

British borrowing costs have soared since the conflict erupted more than a week ago, and by more than those of other European countries and the U.S., as investors fear that surging oil and gas prices will stoke already stubborn inflation and require the government to borrow more.

Ships anchored in the Gulf or transiting the Strait of Hormuz are changing their tracking data to boast links to China in an attempt to evade Iranian attacks, according to data from shipping tracker Marine Traffic analysed by AFP.

Iran has effectively closed the vital waterway since US-Israeli strikes on it began on February 28, and at least 10 vessels have been attacked since.

But by claiming to have an "all-Chinese crew" aboard, or changing their destination to "Chinese owner", vessels are linking themselves to Iran's most important economic partner, Beijing.

For Muslims across the world, Ramadan is synonymous with prayer, spirituality and joyful nighttime gatherings, but across much of the Middle East, the Iran war means evenings no longer have anything festive about them.

The celebrations that usually accompany the holy fasting month have been spoiled by bombing, displacement and cash shortages, all soundtracked by the frequent wail of air raid sirens.

Last week, Zainab El Masry, 40, of Lebanon, was preparing lentil soup and fattoush salad for iftar, the fast-breaking meal taken at sunset, with her family.

KYIV, March 9 (Reuters) - Ukraine is ready for new U.S.-backed peace talks "at any moment", but its partners' attention is currently focused on the Iran conflict, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday, adding that the U.S. had asked to postpone an upcoming meeting.

Writing on X, Zelenskiy said Moscow was trying to manipulate the conflict in its favour and aiming to turn Iran's strikes on its neighbours and U.S. bases into "a second front of Russia's war against Ukraine".

(Reporting by Anna Pruchnicka; Writing by Dan Peleschuk; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

Here are the latest economic events in the Middle East war on Tuesday:

- Oil prices fall -

- Comments from President Donald Trump declaring the Middle East war "pretty much" over sent oil prices down, and pushed US stocks skyward.

- Both the US crude oil benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude fell more than 10 percent, with WTI down to $85.29 per barrel and Brent at $88.95 at around 0230 GMT.

WASHINGTON, March 9 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Monday that he was "nowhere near" deciding whether to send U.S. troops into Iran to secure the stockpile of highly enriched uranium there.

"We haven’t made any decision on that. We’re nowhere near it,” Trump told the New York Post when asked about reported discussions between Israel and the United States on possibly deploying special forces to Iran to seize and secure the material.

WASHINGTON, March 9 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is considering whether to designate Afghanistan as a state sponsor of wrongful detention and could act as soon as Monday, according to a source familiar with the matter.

(Reporting by Simon Lewis, editing by David Ljunggren)

WASHINGTON, March 9 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Monday said Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told him five members of the Iranian national women's soccer team had been "taken care of" amid fears they could be punished.

Australia's SBS News earlier said five players had "broken free" after the team was eliminated from the Asian Cup tournament and were now under the protection of the federal police, seeking assistance from the government.