Axios

President Trump teased Monday that he's moving closer a deal with Iran to end the war — but he stopped short of saying who the U.S. is negotiating with.

Why it matters: Since Israel's assassinations of top Iranian leaders at the start of the war, there's been uncertainty about who is running the country day to day and which officials might actually be empowered to cut a deal with the U.S.

President Trump told reporters his envoys had been negotiating with a senior Iranian official and claimed the parties agreed on many points.

Why it matters: Regional leaders and global markets were bracing for major escalation on Monday, but Trump walked back his threat to strike Iran's power plants, citing productive negotiations.

Skyrocketing prices. Hours-long security lines. Safety worries after another fatal incident.

Driving the news: A partial government shutdown plus an oil price spike from President Trump's Iran war are fueling a spring of hell for air travelers.