To add the timing, nature, and background of the comment

WASHINGTON, June 29 (Reuters) - The White House announced on Monday that U.S. President Donald Trump has authorized a temporary suspension of some tariffs on phosphate fertilizers imported from Morocco, as farmers struggle with fertilizer shortages as a result of the Iran trade war.

White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said in March that the Trump administration was seeking additional sources of fertilizer. Supplies from major Middle Eastern producers had fallen sharply due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

"Global supply chains for phosphate fertilizers and their products, including imports of these products into the United States, have been disrupted in recent months, partly due to conflicts in fertilizer-producing regions and trade actions by major producing countries," Trump said in a statement issued by the White House.

Trump added in the same statement that the United States' production of phosphate fertilizers is currently insufficient to support domestic agricultural food production after accounting for exports.

Trump confirmed that his administration is working with the private sector to increase domestic fertilizer production capacity, but these efforts will take time to significantly increase supplies, adding that producers in countries like Morocco are able to supply the United States with phosphate fertilizers without interruption at the moment.

Trump declared a state of emergency in a statement indicating that he authorizes the temporary suspension of certain anti-dumping and countervailing duties imposed on imports of phosphate fertilizers from Morocco for eight months or until the end of the state of emergency, whichever comes first.

The conflict in the Middle East, which produces a large portion of the world's fertilizers, has led to severe disruption in the markets for these agricultural nutrients, prompting analysts to warn that this threatens food security in developing countries.

The conflict erupted after the US-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28, and Tehran responded by attacking Israel and the Gulf states that host US bases in the region.