COPENHAGEN, March 6 (Reuters) - Maersk, one of the world's biggest container shipping groups, said on Friday it has temporarily suspended two services linking the Middle East to Asia and Europe as the Iran conflict continues to disrupt global supply chains.

The conflict raging in the Middle East will test the resilience of a global economy that has already contended with wars and trade disruptions over the past year.

The US State Department is urging Americans in 14 Middle Eastern nations to "depart now" as strikes from Iran conflict spill over in the Gulf region.

The Islamic Republic, knowing that this fight is existential, retaliated quickly with deadly missile and drone attacks on Israel, U.S. bases in the Middle East, and targets in Gulf states and beyond.

Gold prices rose on Friday as investors sought safe-haven bullion on heightened uncertainty over a widening Middle East conflict.

US embassies in Jerusalem and Qatar issued statements on Tuesday saying they could not help Americans leave the Middle East.

Foreign governments are urging their citizens to leave on any available commercial flight as Gulf airspaces largely close, cruise ships can't pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and major airlines cancel flights.

India's Jindal Stainless said on Friday there may be some delays in steel ​shipments to the Middle East in the near ‌term due to the conflict in the region.