diff --git a/gateway/platforms/base.py b/gateway/platforms/base.py
index ec0323d4738..7026b55cf1b 100644
--- a/gateway/platforms/base.py
+++ b/gateway/platforms/base.py
@@ -1743,6 +1743,55 @@ class BasePlatformAdapter(ABC):
         """
         return SendResult(success=False, error="Not supported")
 
+    async def send_clarify(
+        self,
+        chat_id: str,
+        question: str,
+        choices: Optional[list],
+        clarify_id: str,
+        session_key: str,
+        metadata: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None,
+    ) -> SendResult:
+        """Send a clarify prompt to the user.
+
+        Two render modes:
+
+          * **Multiple choice** (``choices`` is a non-empty list) — adapters
+            that override this should render inline buttons (one per choice
+            plus a final "Other" / free-text option).  Button callbacks
+            MUST resolve via
+            ``tools.clarify_gateway.resolve_gateway_clarify(clarify_id, response)``
+            with the chosen string.  Picking the "Other" button calls
+            ``mark_awaiting_text(clarify_id)`` so the next message in the
+            session is captured as the response.
+
+          * **Open-ended** (``choices`` is None or empty) — render the
+            question as a plain text message; the next user message in the
+            session is captured by the gateway's text-intercept and
+            resolves the clarify automatically (see
+            ``GatewayRunner._maybe_intercept_clarify_text``).
+
+        The default implementation falls back to a numbered text list,
+        which works on every platform — the user replies with a number
+        ("2") or with the literal choice text, and the gateway intercepts
+        and resolves.  Adapters with native button UIs (Telegram, Discord)
+        SHOULD override this for a richer UX.
+        """
+        if choices:
+            lines = [f"❓ {question}", ""]
+            for i, choice in enumerate(choices, start=1):
+                lines.append(f"  {i}. {choice}")
+            lines.append("")
+            lines.append("Reply with the number, the option text, or your own answer.")
+            text = "\n".join(lines)
+        else:
+            text = f"❓ {question}"
+        return await self.send(
+            chat_id=chat_id,
+            content=text,
+            metadata=metadata,
+        )
+
     async def send_private_notice(
         self,
         chat_id: str,
@@ -2831,6 +2880,58 @@ class BasePlatformAdapter(ABC):
                     logger.error("[%s] Command '/%s' dispatch failed: %s", self.name, cmd, e, exc_info=True)
                 return
 
+            # Clarify text-capture bypass: if the agent is blocked on a
+            # clarify_tool call awaiting a free-form text response (open-
+            # ended clarify, or user picked "Other"), the next non-command
+            # message in this session MUST reach the runner so the
+            # clarify-intercept can resolve it and unblock the agent.
+            #
+            # Without this bypass: the message gets queued in
+            # _pending_messages AND triggers an interrupt, killing the
+            # agent run mid-clarify and discarding the user's answer.
+            # Same shape as the /approve deadlock fix (PR #4926) — both
+            # cases are "agent thread blocked on Event.wait, message must
+            # reach the resolver before being treated as a new turn."
+            if not cmd:
+                try:
+                    from tools import clarify_gateway as _clarify_mod
+                    _has_text_clarify = (
+                        _clarify_mod.get_pending_for_session(session_key) is not None
+                    )
+                except Exception:
+                    _has_text_clarify = False
+
+                if _has_text_clarify:
+                    logger.debug(
+                        "[%s] Routing message to clarify text-intercept for %s",
+                        self.name, session_key,
+                    )
+                    try:
+                        _thread_meta = _thread_metadata_for_source(
+                            event.source, _reply_anchor_for_event(event)
+                        )
+                        response = await self._message_handler(event)
+                        _text, _eph_ttl = self._unwrap_ephemeral(response)
+                        if _text:
+                            _r = await self._send_with_retry(
+                                chat_id=event.source.chat_id,
+                                content=_text,
+                                reply_to=_reply_anchor_for_event(event),
+                                metadata=_thread_meta,
+                            )
+                            if _eph_ttl > 0 and _r.success and _r.message_id:
+                                self._schedule_ephemeral_delete(
+                                    chat_id=event.source.chat_id,
+                                    message_id=_r.message_id,
+                                    ttl_seconds=_eph_ttl,
+                                )
+                    except Exception as e:
+                        logger.error(
+                            "[%s] Clarify text-intercept dispatch failed: %s",
+                            self.name, e, exc_info=True,
+                        )
+                    return
+
             if self._busy_session_handler is not None:
                 try:
                     if await self._busy_session_handler(event, session_key):
diff --git a/gateway/platforms/telegram.py b/gateway/platforms/telegram.py
index e91a38ac6b1..a821160cfc8 100644
--- a/gateway/platforms/telegram.py
+++ b/gateway/platforms/telegram.py
@@ -427,6 +427,9 @@ class TelegramAdapter(BasePlatformAdapter):
         # Slash-confirm button state: confirm_id → session_key (for /reload-mcp
         # and any other slash-confirm prompts; see GatewayRunner._request_slash_confirm).
         self._slash_confirm_state: Dict[str, str] = {}
+        # Clarify button state: clarify_id → session_key (for the clarify tool's
+        # multiple-choice prompts; see GatewayRunner clarify_callback wiring).
+        self._clarify_state: Dict[str, str] = {}
         # Notification mode for message sends.
         # "important" — only final responses, approvals, and slash confirmations
         #               trigger notifications; tool progress, streaming, status
@@ -2215,6 +2218,80 @@ class TelegramAdapter(BasePlatformAdapter):
             logger.warning("[%s] send_slash_confirm failed: %s", self.name, e)
             return SendResult(success=False, error=str(e))
 
+    async def send_clarify(
+        self,
+        chat_id: str,
+        question: str,
+        choices: Optional[list],
+        clarify_id: str,
+        session_key: str,
+        metadata: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None,
+    ) -> SendResult:
+        """Render a clarify prompt with one inline button per choice.
+
+        Multi-choice mode (``choices`` non-empty): renders one button per
+        option plus a final "✏️ Other (type answer)" button.  Picking the
+        "Other" button flips the entry into text-capture mode so the next
+        message becomes the response.
+
+        Open-ended mode (``choices`` empty): renders the question as plain
+        text — no buttons.  The next message in the session is captured by
+        the gateway's text-intercept and resolves the clarify.
+        """
+        if not self._bot:
+            return SendResult(success=False, error="Not connected")
+
+        try:
+            text = f"❓ {_html.escape(question)}"
+            thread_id = self._metadata_thread_id(metadata)
+
+            kwargs: Dict[str, Any] = {
+                "chat_id": int(chat_id),
+                "text": text,
+                "parse_mode": ParseMode.HTML,
+                **self._link_preview_kwargs(),
+            }
+
+            if choices:
+                # Telegram caps callback_data at 64 bytes; keep "cl:<id>:<idx>"
+                # short.  Button label is also capped (~64 chars in practice).
+                rows = []
+                for idx, choice in enumerate(choices):
+                    label = str(choice)
+                    if len(label) > 60:
+                        label = label[:57] + "..."
+                    rows.append([
+                        InlineKeyboardButton(
+                            f"{idx + 1}. {label}",
+                            callback_data=f"cl:{clarify_id}:{idx}",
+                        )
+                    ])
+                rows.append([
+                    InlineKeyboardButton(
+                        "✏️ Other (type answer)",
+                        callback_data=f"cl:{clarify_id}:other",
+                    )
+                ])
+                kwargs["reply_markup"] = InlineKeyboardMarkup(rows)
+
+            reply_to_id = self._reply_to_message_id_for_send(None, metadata)
+            kwargs["reply_to_message_id"] = reply_to_id
+            kwargs.update(
+                self._thread_kwargs_for_send(
+                    chat_id,
+                    thread_id,
+                    metadata,
+                    reply_to_message_id=reply_to_id,
+                )
+            )
+
+            msg = await self._send_message_with_thread_fallback(**kwargs)
+            self._clarify_state[clarify_id] = session_key
+            return SendResult(success=True, message_id=str(msg.message_id))
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.warning("[%s] send_clarify failed: %s", self.name, e)
+            return SendResult(success=False, error=str(e))
+
     async def send_model_picker(
         self,
         chat_id: str,
@@ -2700,6 +2777,111 @@ class TelegramAdapter(BasePlatformAdapter):
                     logger.error("[%s] slash-confirm callback failed: %s", self.name, exc, exc_info=True)
             return
 
+        # --- Clarify callbacks (cl:clarify_id:idx | cl:clarify_id:other) ---
+        if data.startswith("cl:"):
+            parts = data.split(":", 2)
+            if len(parts) == 3:
+                clarify_id = parts[1]
+                choice_token = parts[2]
+
+                caller_id = str(getattr(query.from_user, "id", ""))
+                if not self._is_callback_user_authorized(
+                    caller_id,
+                    chat_id=query_chat_id,
+                    chat_type=str(query_chat_type) if query_chat_type is not None else None,
+                    thread_id=str(query_thread_id) if query_thread_id is not None else None,
+                    user_name=query_user_name,
+                ):
+                    await query.answer(text="⛔ You are not authorized to answer this prompt.")
+                    return
+
+                session_key = self._clarify_state.get(clarify_id)
+                if not session_key:
+                    await query.answer(text="This prompt has already been resolved.")
+                    return
+
+                user_display = getattr(query.from_user, "first_name", "User")
+
+                if choice_token == "other":
+                    # Flip into text-capture mode and tell the user to type
+                    # their answer.  The gateway's text-intercept will pick
+                    # up the next message in this session and resolve the
+                    # clarify.  Do NOT pop _clarify_state yet — we still
+                    # need it if the user is slow to respond and the entry
+                    # is cleared by something else.
+                    try:
+                        from tools.clarify_gateway import mark_awaiting_text
+                        mark_awaiting_text(clarify_id)
+                    except Exception as exc:
+                        logger.warning("[%s] mark_awaiting_text failed: %s", self.name, exc)
+
+                    await query.answer(text="✏️ Type your answer in the chat.")
+                    try:
+                        await query.edit_message_text(
+                            text=f"❓ {query.message.text or ''}\n\n<i>Awaiting typed response from {_html.escape(user_display)}…</i>",
+                            parse_mode=ParseMode.HTML,
+                            reply_markup=None,
+                        )
+                    except Exception:
+                        pass
+                    return
+
+                # Numeric choice → resolve immediately with the chosen text
+                try:
+                    idx = int(choice_token)
+                except (ValueError, TypeError):
+                    await query.answer(text="Invalid choice.")
+                    return
+
+                # Look up the choice text from the entry registered in the
+                # clarify primitive.  Fall back to the index if the entry
+                # has been cleaned up (race with timeout / session reset).
+                resolved_text: Optional[str] = None
+                try:
+                    from tools.clarify_gateway import _entries as _clarify_entries  # type: ignore
+                    entry = _clarify_entries.get(clarify_id)
+                    if entry and entry.choices and 0 <= idx < len(entry.choices):
+                        resolved_text = entry.choices[idx]
+                except Exception:
+                    resolved_text = None
+
+                if resolved_text is None:
+                    # Race: entry vanished. Echo the index as a number so
+                    # the agent at least sees an intentional response
+                    # rather than nothing.
+                    resolved_text = f"choice {idx + 1}"
+
+                # Pop state and resolve
+                self._clarify_state.pop(clarify_id, None)
+                try:
+                    from tools.clarify_gateway import resolve_gateway_clarify
+                    resolved = resolve_gateway_clarify(clarify_id, resolved_text)
+                except Exception as exc:
+                    logger.error("[%s] resolve_gateway_clarify failed: %s", self.name, exc)
+                    resolved = False
+
+                await query.answer(text=f"✓ {resolved_text[:60]}")
+                try:
+                    await query.edit_message_text(
+                        text=f"❓ {_html.escape(query.message.text or '')}\n\n<b>{_html.escape(user_display)}:</b> {_html.escape(resolved_text)}",
+                        parse_mode=ParseMode.HTML,
+                        reply_markup=None,
+                    )
+                except Exception:
+                    pass
+
+                if resolved:
+                    logger.info(
+                        "Telegram clarify button resolved (id=%s, choice=%r, user=%s)",
+                        clarify_id, resolved_text, user_display,
+                    )
+                else:
+                    logger.warning(
+                        "Telegram clarify button: resolve_gateway_clarify returned False (id=%s)",
+                        clarify_id,
+                    )
+            return
+
         # --- Update prompt callbacks ---
         if not data.startswith("update_prompt:"):
             return
diff --git a/gateway/run.py b/gateway/run.py
index 559adae89bf..bda0cbf9831 100644
--- a/gateway/run.py
+++ b/gateway/run.py
@@ -5828,6 +5828,37 @@ class GatewayRunner:
                     )
                 _update_prompts.pop(_quick_key, None)
 
+        # Intercept messages that are responses to a pending clarify
+        # request that is awaiting free-form text (either an open-ended
+        # clarify with no choices, or one where the user picked the
+        # "Other" button).  The first non-empty user message in the
+        # session resolves the clarify and unblocks the agent thread —
+        # we do NOT route it to the agent as a new turn.
+        try:
+            from tools import clarify_gateway as _clarify_mod
+            _pending_clarify = _clarify_mod.get_pending_for_session(_quick_key)
+        except Exception:
+            _pending_clarify = None
+        if _pending_clarify is not None:
+            _raw_clarify_reply = (event.text or "").strip()
+            # Skip slash commands — the user clearly wanted to issue a
+            # command, not answer the clarify.  Leave the clarify pending
+            # so the user can retry; if it times out, the agent unblocks
+            # with an empty response.
+            if _raw_clarify_reply and not _raw_clarify_reply.startswith("/"):
+                _resolved = _clarify_mod.resolve_gateway_clarify(
+                    _pending_clarify.clarify_id, _raw_clarify_reply,
+                )
+                if _resolved:
+                    logger.info(
+                        "Gateway intercepted clarify text response (session=%s, id=%s)",
+                        _quick_key, _pending_clarify.clarify_id,
+                    )
+                    # Acknowledge with empty string so adapters that emit
+                    # the agent's response don't double-post.  The agent
+                    # itself will produce the next user-facing message.
+                    return ""
+
         # Intercept messages that are responses to a pending /reload-mcp
         # (or future) slash-confirm prompt.  Recognized confirm replies are
         # /approve, /always, /cancel (plus short aliases).  Anything else
@@ -14957,6 +14988,76 @@ class GatewayRunner:
                     if _pdc is not None:
                         _pdc[session_key] = _release_bg_review_messages
 
+            # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+            # Clarify callback: present a clarify prompt and block on a response.
+            #
+            # Runs on the agent's worker thread (see clarify_tool's synchronous
+            # callback contract).  Bridges sync→async by scheduling the
+            # adapter's send_clarify on the gateway event loop, then blocks on
+            # the clarify primitive's threading.Event with a configurable
+            # timeout.  Returns the user's response string, or a sentinel
+            # explaining that no response arrived (so the agent can adapt
+            # rather than hang forever).
+            # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+            def _clarify_callback_sync(question: str, choices) -> str:
+                from tools import clarify_gateway as _clarify_mod
+                import uuid as _uuid
+
+                if not _status_adapter:
+                    return ""
+
+                clarify_id = _uuid.uuid4().hex[:10]
+                _clarify_mod.register(
+                    clarify_id=clarify_id,
+                    session_key=session_key or "",
+                    question=question,
+                    choices=list(choices) if choices else None,
+                )
+
+                # Pause typing — like approval, we don't want a "thinking..."
+                # status to obscure the prompt or block the user from typing
+                # an "Other" response on platforms that disable input while
+                # typing is active (Slack Assistant API).
+                try:
+                    _status_adapter.pause_typing_for_chat(_status_chat_id)
+                except Exception:
+                    pass
+
+                send_ok = False
+                try:
+                    fut = asyncio.run_coroutine_threadsafe(
+                        _status_adapter.send_clarify(
+                            chat_id=_status_chat_id,
+                            question=question,
+                            choices=list(choices) if choices else None,
+                            clarify_id=clarify_id,
+                            session_key=session_key or "",
+                            metadata=_status_thread_metadata,
+                        ),
+                        _loop_for_step,
+                    )
+                    result = fut.result(timeout=15)
+                    send_ok = bool(getattr(result, "success", False))
+                except Exception as exc:
+                    logger.warning("Clarify send failed: %s", exc)
+                    send_ok = False
+
+                if not send_ok:
+                    # Couldn't deliver the prompt — clean up and return
+                    # sentinel so the agent can fall back to a sensible
+                    # default rather than hanging.
+                    _clarify_mod.clear_session(session_key or "")
+                    return "[clarify prompt could not be delivered]"
+
+                timeout = _clarify_mod.get_clarify_timeout()
+                response = _clarify_mod.wait_for_response(clarify_id, timeout=float(timeout))
+                if response is None or response == "":
+                    # Timeout or session-boundary cancellation
+                    return f"[user did not respond within {int(timeout / 60)}m]"
+                return response
+
+            agent.clarify_callback = _clarify_callback_sync
+
             # Store agent reference for interrupt support
             agent_holder[0] = agent
             # Capture the full tool definitions for transcript logging
@@ -15228,6 +15329,14 @@ class GatewayRunner:
                 result = agent.run_conversation(_run_message, conversation_history=agent_history, task_id=session_id)
             finally:
                 unregister_gateway_notify(_approval_session_key)
+                # Cancel any pending clarify entries so blocked agent
+                # threads don't hang past the end of the run (interrupt,
+                # completion, gateway shutdown).  Idempotent.
+                try:
+                    from tools.clarify_gateway import clear_session as _clear_clarify_session
+                    _clear_clarify_session(_approval_session_key)
+                except Exception:
+                    pass
                 reset_current_session_key(_approval_session_token)
             result_holder[0] = result
 
diff --git a/hermes_cli/config.py b/hermes_cli/config.py
index 038aca518fb..dc3e414948b 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/config.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/config.py
@@ -477,6 +477,12 @@ DEFAULT_CONFIG = {
         # threshold before escalating to a full timeout.  The warning fires
         # once per run and does not interrupt the agent.  0 = disable warning.
         "gateway_timeout_warning": 900,
+        # Maximum time (seconds) the gateway will block an agent waiting for
+        # a clarify-tool response from the user.  Hit this and the agent
+        # unblocks with "[user did not respond within Xm]" so it can adapt
+        # rather than pinning the running-agent guard forever.  CLI clarify
+        # blocks indefinitely (input() is synchronous) and ignores this.
+        "clarify_timeout": 600,
         # Periodic "still working" notification interval (seconds).
         # Sends a status message every N seconds so the user knows the
         # agent hasn't died during long tasks.  0 = disable notifications.
diff --git a/tests/gateway/test_telegram_clarify_buttons.py b/tests/gateway/test_telegram_clarify_buttons.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b9e7bd5130f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/gateway/test_telegram_clarify_buttons.py
@@ -0,0 +1,451 @@
+"""Tests for Telegram inline keyboard clarify buttons.
+
+Mirrors test_telegram_approval_buttons.py for the new ``send_clarify`` and
+``cl:`` callback dispatch added in feat/clarify-gateway-buttons.
+"""
+
+import asyncio
+import os
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+from types import SimpleNamespace
+from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, MagicMock, patch
+
+import pytest
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Ensure the repo root is importable
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+_repo = str(Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2])
+if _repo not in sys.path:
+    sys.path.insert(0, _repo)
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Minimal Telegram mock so TelegramAdapter can be imported (mirrors
+# test_telegram_approval_buttons.py)
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+def _ensure_telegram_mock():
+    if "telegram" in sys.modules and hasattr(sys.modules["telegram"], "__file__"):
+        return
+
+    mod = MagicMock()
+    mod.ext.ContextTypes.DEFAULT_TYPE = type(None)
+    mod.constants.ParseMode.MARKDOWN = "Markdown"
+    mod.constants.ParseMode.MARKDOWN_V2 = "MarkdownV2"
+    mod.constants.ParseMode.HTML = "HTML"
+    mod.constants.ChatType.PRIVATE = "private"
+    mod.constants.ChatType.GROUP = "group"
+    mod.constants.ChatType.SUPERGROUP = "supergroup"
+    mod.constants.ChatType.CHANNEL = "channel"
+    mod.error.NetworkError = type("NetworkError", (OSError,), {})
+    mod.error.TimedOut = type("TimedOut", (OSError,), {})
+    mod.error.BadRequest = type("BadRequest", (Exception,), {})
+
+    for name in ("telegram", "telegram.ext", "telegram.constants", "telegram.request"):
+        sys.modules.setdefault(name, mod)
+    sys.modules.setdefault("telegram.error", mod.error)
+
+
+_ensure_telegram_mock()
+
+from gateway.platforms.telegram import TelegramAdapter
+from gateway.config import Platform, PlatformConfig
+
+
+def _make_adapter(extra=None):
+    config = PlatformConfig(enabled=True, token="test-token", extra=extra or {})
+    adapter = TelegramAdapter(config)
+    adapter._bot = AsyncMock()
+    adapter._app = MagicMock()
+    return adapter
+
+
+def _clear_clarify_state():
+    from tools import clarify_gateway as cm
+    with cm._lock:
+        cm._entries.clear()
+        cm._session_index.clear()
+        cm._notify_cbs.clear()
+
+
+# ===========================================================================
+# send_clarify — render
+# ===========================================================================
+
+class TestTelegramSendClarify:
+    """Verify the rendered prompt has buttons or none, and stores state."""
+
+    def setup_method(self):
+        _clear_clarify_state()
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_multi_choice_renders_buttons_and_other(self):
+        adapter = _make_adapter()
+        mock_msg = MagicMock()
+        mock_msg.message_id = 100
+        adapter._bot.send_message = AsyncMock(return_value=mock_msg)
+
+        result = await adapter.send_clarify(
+            chat_id="12345",
+            question="Which option?",
+            choices=["alpha", "beta", "gamma"],
+            clarify_id="cid1",
+            session_key="sk1",
+        )
+
+        assert result.success is True
+        assert result.message_id == "100"
+
+        kwargs = adapter._bot.send_message.call_args[1]
+        assert kwargs["chat_id"] == 12345
+        assert "Which option?" in kwargs["text"]
+        # InlineKeyboardMarkup with N+1 buttons (3 choices + Other)
+        markup = kwargs["reply_markup"]
+        assert markup is not None
+        # Mocked InlineKeyboardMarkup — just verify it was constructed
+        # with rows.  We check state instead of poking the mock structure.
+        assert "cid1" in adapter._clarify_state
+        assert adapter._clarify_state["cid1"] == "sk1"
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_open_ended_no_keyboard(self):
+        adapter = _make_adapter()
+        mock_msg = MagicMock()
+        mock_msg.message_id = 101
+        adapter._bot.send_message = AsyncMock(return_value=mock_msg)
+
+        result = await adapter.send_clarify(
+            chat_id="12345",
+            question="What is your name?",
+            choices=None,
+            clarify_id="cid2",
+            session_key="sk2",
+        )
+
+        assert result.success is True
+        kwargs = adapter._bot.send_message.call_args[1]
+        # No reply_markup means no buttons — open-ended path
+        assert "reply_markup" not in kwargs
+        assert "What is your name?" in kwargs["text"]
+        assert adapter._clarify_state["cid2"] == "sk2"
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_not_connected(self):
+        adapter = _make_adapter()
+        adapter._bot = None
+        result = await adapter.send_clarify(
+            chat_id="12345",
+            question="?",
+            choices=["a"],
+            clarify_id="cid3",
+            session_key="sk3",
+        )
+        assert result.success is False
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_truncates_long_choice_label(self):
+        adapter = _make_adapter()
+        mock_msg = MagicMock()
+        mock_msg.message_id = 102
+        adapter._bot.send_message = AsyncMock(return_value=mock_msg)
+
+        long_choice = "x" * 200  # > 60 char cap
+        result = await adapter.send_clarify(
+            chat_id="12345",
+            question="?",
+            choices=[long_choice],
+            clarify_id="cid4",
+            session_key="sk4",
+        )
+        assert result.success is True
+        # The truncation logic replaces with "..." past 57 chars; we don't
+        # inspect the mock's button labels directly (auto-MagicMock), but
+        # we can verify the call didn't raise on absurdly long input.
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_html_escapes_question(self):
+        adapter = _make_adapter()
+        mock_msg = MagicMock()
+        mock_msg.message_id = 103
+        adapter._bot.send_message = AsyncMock(return_value=mock_msg)
+
+        await adapter.send_clarify(
+            chat_id="12345",
+            question="<script>alert(1)</script>",
+            choices=["x"],
+            clarify_id="cid5",
+            session_key="sk5",
+        )
+        kwargs = adapter._bot.send_message.call_args[1]
+        # Must NOT contain raw <script> — html.escape should have neutralized
+        assert "<script>" not in kwargs["text"]
+        assert "&lt;script&gt;" in kwargs["text"]
+
+
+# ===========================================================================
+# Callback dispatch — _handle_callback_query routing for cl:* prefixes
+# ===========================================================================
+
+class TestTelegramClarifyCallback:
+    """Verify clicking a button resolves the clarify primitive."""
+
+    def setup_method(self):
+        _clear_clarify_state()
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_numeric_choice_resolves_with_choice_text(self):
+        from tools import clarify_gateway as cm
+
+        adapter = _make_adapter()
+        # Pre-register a clarify entry so the callback can look up the choice text
+        cm.register("cidA", "sk-cb", "Pick", ["red", "green", "blue"])
+        adapter._clarify_state["cidA"] = "sk-cb"
+
+        query = AsyncMock()
+        query.data = "cl:cidA:1"  # green
+        query.message = MagicMock()
+        query.message.chat_id = 12345
+        query.message.text = "Pick"
+        query.from_user = MagicMock()
+        query.from_user.id = "777"
+        query.from_user.first_name = "Tester"
+        query.answer = AsyncMock()
+        query.edit_message_text = AsyncMock()
+
+        update = MagicMock()
+        update.callback_query = query
+        context = MagicMock()
+
+        with patch.dict(os.environ, {"TELEGRAM_ALLOWED_USERS": "*"}, clear=False):
+            await adapter._handle_callback_query(update, context)
+
+        # State popped
+        assert "cidA" not in adapter._clarify_state
+        # Wait shouldn't be needed — resolve_gateway_clarify is sync.
+        # The entry's response should be set.
+        # We test by reading the entry's response directly.
+        with cm._lock:
+            entry = cm._entries.get("cidA")
+        # Entry might be popped by wait_for_response, but here we never
+        # called wait — so it's still in _entries with response set.
+        assert entry is not None
+        assert entry.response == "green"
+        assert entry.event.is_set()
+        query.answer.assert_called_once()
+        query.edit_message_text.assert_called_once()
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_other_button_flips_to_text_mode(self):
+        from tools import clarify_gateway as cm
+
+        adapter = _make_adapter()
+        cm.register("cidB", "sk-cb-other", "Pick", ["x", "y"])
+        adapter._clarify_state["cidB"] = "sk-cb-other"
+
+        query = AsyncMock()
+        query.data = "cl:cidB:other"
+        query.message = MagicMock()
+        query.message.chat_id = 12345
+        query.message.text = "Pick"
+        query.from_user = MagicMock()
+        query.from_user.id = "777"
+        query.from_user.first_name = "Tester"
+        query.answer = AsyncMock()
+        query.edit_message_text = AsyncMock()
+
+        update = MagicMock()
+        update.callback_query = query
+        context = MagicMock()
+
+        with patch.dict(os.environ, {"TELEGRAM_ALLOWED_USERS": "*"}, clear=False):
+            await adapter._handle_callback_query(update, context)
+
+        # Entry should now be in text-capture mode
+        pending = cm.get_pending_for_session("sk-cb-other")
+        assert pending is not None
+        assert pending.clarify_id == "cidB"
+        assert pending.awaiting_text is True
+        # State NOT popped — the user still needs to type their answer
+        assert "cidB" in adapter._clarify_state
+        # Entry NOT yet resolved
+        with cm._lock:
+            entry = cm._entries.get("cidB")
+        assert entry is not None
+        assert not entry.event.is_set()
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_already_resolved(self):
+        adapter = _make_adapter()
+        # No state for cidGone
+
+        query = AsyncMock()
+        query.data = "cl:cidGone:0"
+        query.message = MagicMock()
+        query.message.chat_id = 12345
+        query.from_user = MagicMock()
+        query.from_user.id = "777"
+        query.from_user.first_name = "Tester"
+        query.answer = AsyncMock()
+
+        update = MagicMock()
+        update.callback_query = query
+        context = MagicMock()
+
+        with patch.dict(os.environ, {"TELEGRAM_ALLOWED_USERS": "*"}, clear=False):
+            await adapter._handle_callback_query(update, context)
+
+        query.answer.assert_called_once()
+        # Should NOT resolve anything
+        assert "already" in query.answer.call_args[1]["text"].lower()
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_unauthorized_user_rejected(self):
+        from tools import clarify_gateway as cm
+
+        adapter = _make_adapter()
+        cm.register("cidC", "sk-auth", "Pick", ["a", "b"])
+        adapter._clarify_state["cidC"] = "sk-auth"
+
+        # Hook up a runner that says NOT authorized
+        class _DenyRunner:
+            async def _handle_message(self, event):
+                return None
+            def _is_user_authorized(self, source):
+                return False
+
+        adapter._message_handler = _DenyRunner()._handle_message
+
+        query = AsyncMock()
+        query.data = "cl:cidC:0"
+        query.message = MagicMock()
+        query.message.chat_id = 12345
+        query.message.chat.type = "private"
+        query.message.text = "Pick"
+        query.from_user = MagicMock()
+        query.from_user.id = "999"
+        query.from_user.first_name = "Mallory"
+        query.answer = AsyncMock()
+        query.edit_message_text = AsyncMock()
+
+        update = MagicMock()
+        update.callback_query = query
+        context = MagicMock()
+
+        await adapter._handle_callback_query(update, context)
+
+        # Must not resolve, must answer with not-authorized message
+        with cm._lock:
+            entry = cm._entries.get("cidC")
+        assert entry is not None
+        assert not entry.event.is_set()
+        query.answer.assert_called_once()
+        assert "not authorized" in query.answer.call_args[1]["text"].lower()
+        # State preserved
+        assert adapter._clarify_state["cidC"] == "sk-auth"
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_invalid_choice_token(self):
+        from tools import clarify_gateway as cm
+
+        adapter = _make_adapter()
+        cm.register("cidD", "sk-inv", "Q?", ["a"])
+        adapter._clarify_state["cidD"] = "sk-inv"
+
+        query = AsyncMock()
+        query.data = "cl:cidD:not-a-number"
+        query.message = MagicMock()
+        query.message.chat_id = 12345
+        query.message.text = "Q?"
+        query.from_user = MagicMock()
+        query.from_user.id = "777"
+        query.from_user.first_name = "Tester"
+        query.answer = AsyncMock()
+
+        update = MagicMock()
+        update.callback_query = query
+        context = MagicMock()
+
+        with patch.dict(os.environ, {"TELEGRAM_ALLOWED_USERS": "*"}, clear=False):
+            await adapter._handle_callback_query(update, context)
+
+        with cm._lock:
+            entry = cm._entries.get("cidD")
+        assert entry is not None
+        assert not entry.event.is_set()
+        query.answer.assert_called_once()
+        assert "invalid" in query.answer.call_args[1]["text"].lower()
+
+
+# ===========================================================================
+# Base adapter fallback render — text numbered list
+# ===========================================================================
+
+class TestBaseAdapterClarifyFallback:
+    """Adapters without button overrides should render numbered text."""
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_numbered_text_fallback(self):
+        from gateway.platforms.base import BasePlatformAdapter, SendResult
+
+        # Subclass just enough to instantiate
+        class _Stub(BasePlatformAdapter):
+            name = "stub"
+
+            def __init__(self):
+                # Skip base __init__ — we're not exercising it
+                self.sent: list = []
+
+            async def connect(self): pass
+            async def disconnect(self): pass
+            async def send(self, chat_id, content, **kw):
+                self.sent.append({"chat_id": chat_id, "content": content})
+                return SendResult(success=True, message_id="1")
+            async def edit(self, *a, **k): return SendResult(success=False)
+            async def get_history(self, *a, **k): return []
+            async def get_chat_info(self, *a, **k): return {}
+
+        adapter = _Stub()
+
+        result = await adapter.send_clarify(
+            chat_id="c",
+            question="Pick a fruit",
+            choices=["apple", "banana"],
+            clarify_id="x",
+            session_key="s",
+        )
+        assert result.success is True
+        assert len(adapter.sent) == 1
+        text = adapter.sent[0]["content"]
+        assert "Pick a fruit" in text
+        assert "1." in text and "apple" in text
+        assert "2." in text and "banana" in text
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_open_ended_fallback_renders_question_only(self):
+        from gateway.platforms.base import BasePlatformAdapter, SendResult
+
+        class _Stub(BasePlatformAdapter):
+            name = "stub"
+            def __init__(self):
+                self.sent: list = []
+            async def connect(self): pass
+            async def disconnect(self): pass
+            async def send(self, chat_id, content, **kw):
+                self.sent.append(content)
+                return SendResult(success=True, message_id="1")
+            async def edit(self, *a, **k): return SendResult(success=False)
+            async def get_history(self, *a, **k): return []
+            async def get_chat_info(self, *a, **k): return {}
+
+        adapter = _Stub()
+        await adapter.send_clarify(
+            chat_id="c",
+            question="Free form?",
+            choices=None,
+            clarify_id="x",
+            session_key="s",
+        )
+        assert "Free form?" in adapter.sent[0]
+        # No numbered list — choices were empty
+        assert "1." not in adapter.sent[0]
diff --git a/tests/tools/test_clarify_gateway.py b/tests/tools/test_clarify_gateway.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..61ea55c8cfc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/tools/test_clarify_gateway.py
@@ -0,0 +1,207 @@
+"""Tests for the gateway-side clarify primitive (tools/clarify_gateway.py).
+
+The clarify tool needs to ask the user a question and block the agent
+thread until they respond.  These tests cover the module-level state
+machine: register, wait, resolve via button, resolve via text-fallback,
+"Other"-button text-capture flip, timeout, session boundary cleanup.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import threading
+import time
+from concurrent.futures import ThreadPoolExecutor
+
+import pytest
+
+
+def _clear_clarify_state():
+    """Reset module-level state between tests."""
+    from tools import clarify_gateway as cm
+    with cm._lock:
+        cm._entries.clear()
+        cm._session_index.clear()
+        cm._notify_cbs.clear()
+
+
+class TestClarifyPrimitive:
+    """Core register/wait/resolve mechanics."""
+
+    def setup_method(self):
+        _clear_clarify_state()
+
+    def test_button_choice_resolves_wait(self):
+        """resolve_gateway_clarify unblocks wait_for_response with the chosen string."""
+        from tools import clarify_gateway as cm
+
+        cm.register("id1", "sk1", "Pick one", ["A", "B", "C"])
+
+        def resolver():
+            time.sleep(0.05)
+            cm.resolve_gateway_clarify("id1", "B")
+
+        threading.Thread(target=resolver).start()
+        result = cm.wait_for_response("id1", timeout=2.0)
+        assert result == "B"
+
+    def test_open_ended_auto_awaits_text(self):
+        """Clarify with no choices is in text-capture mode immediately."""
+        from tools import clarify_gateway as cm
+
+        entry = cm.register("id2", "sk2", "Free form?", None)
+        assert entry.awaiting_text is True
+
+        # get_pending_for_session returns the entry so the gateway
+        # text-intercept can find it.
+        pending = cm.get_pending_for_session("sk2")
+        assert pending is not None
+        assert pending.clarify_id == "id2"
+
+    def test_button_choice_does_not_auto_await(self):
+        """Multi-choice clarify should NOT be in text-capture mode initially."""
+        from tools import clarify_gateway as cm
+
+        entry = cm.register("id3", "sk3", "Pick", ["X", "Y"])
+        assert entry.awaiting_text is False
+        assert cm.get_pending_for_session("sk3") is None
+
+    def test_other_button_flips_to_text_mode(self):
+        """mark_awaiting_text makes get_pending_for_session find the entry."""
+        from tools import clarify_gateway as cm
+
+        cm.register("id4", "sk4", "Pick", ["X", "Y"])
+        assert cm.get_pending_for_session("sk4") is None
+
+        flipped = cm.mark_awaiting_text("id4")
+        assert flipped is True
+
+        pending = cm.get_pending_for_session("sk4")
+        assert pending is not None
+        assert pending.clarify_id == "id4"
+
+    def test_mark_awaiting_text_unknown_id(self):
+        """mark_awaiting_text on a non-existent id returns False."""
+        from tools import clarify_gateway as cm
+
+        assert cm.mark_awaiting_text("nope") is False
+
+    def test_timeout_returns_none(self):
+        """wait_for_response returns None when no resolve fires within the timeout."""
+        from tools import clarify_gateway as cm
+
+        cm.register("id5", "sk5", "Q?", ["A"])
+        result = cm.wait_for_response("id5", timeout=0.2)
+        assert result is None
+
+    def test_resolve_unknown_id_returns_false(self):
+        """resolve_gateway_clarify is idempotent on unknown ids."""
+        from tools import clarify_gateway as cm
+
+        assert cm.resolve_gateway_clarify("nope", "anything") is False
+
+    def test_resolve_after_wait_completes_is_noop(self):
+        """A late resolve on a finished entry doesn't blow up."""
+        from tools import clarify_gateway as cm
+
+        cm.register("id6", "sk6", "Q?", ["A"])
+        # Time out, entry gets cleaned up
+        cm.wait_for_response("id6", timeout=0.1)
+        # Late button click — should not raise
+        result = cm.resolve_gateway_clarify("id6", "A")
+        assert result is False
+
+    def test_clear_session_cancels_pending_entries(self):
+        """clear_session unblocks blocked threads with empty response."""
+        from tools import clarify_gateway as cm
+
+        cm.register("id7", "sk7", "Q?", ["A"])
+
+        def waiter():
+            return cm.wait_for_response("id7", timeout=10.0)
+
+        with ThreadPoolExecutor(1) as pool:
+            fut = pool.submit(waiter)
+            time.sleep(0.05)
+            cancelled = cm.clear_session("sk7")
+            assert cancelled == 1
+            result = fut.result(timeout=2.0)
+            # clear_session sets response="" then the wait returns it
+            assert result == ""
+
+    def test_has_pending(self):
+        from tools import clarify_gateway as cm
+
+        cm.register("id8", "sk8", "Q?", ["A"])
+        assert cm.has_pending("sk8") is True
+        assert cm.has_pending("nonexistent") is False
+
+    def test_notify_register_unregister_clears_pending(self):
+        """unregister_notify cancels any pending clarify so threads unwind."""
+        from tools import clarify_gateway as cm
+
+        cm.register("id9", "sk9", "Q?", ["A"])
+
+        def waiter():
+            return cm.wait_for_response("id9", timeout=10.0)
+
+        with ThreadPoolExecutor(1) as pool:
+            fut = pool.submit(waiter)
+            time.sleep(0.05)
+
+            cm.register_notify("sk9", lambda entry: None)
+            cm.unregister_notify("sk9")
+
+            # unregister_notify calls clear_session; thread unwinds
+            result = fut.result(timeout=2.0)
+            assert result == ""
+
+    def test_session_index_isolation(self):
+        """Entries from different sessions don't leak across get_pending lookups."""
+        from tools import clarify_gateway as cm
+
+        cm.register("idA", "alpha", "Q?", None)  # auto-await text
+        cm.register("idB", "beta", "Q?", None)   # auto-await text
+
+        a = cm.get_pending_for_session("alpha")
+        b = cm.get_pending_for_session("beta")
+        assert a is not None and a.clarify_id == "idA"
+        assert b is not None and b.clarify_id == "idB"
+
+    def test_clarify_timeout_config_default(self):
+        """get_clarify_timeout returns 600 by default."""
+        from tools import clarify_gateway as cm
+
+        timeout = cm.get_clarify_timeout()
+        # Default 600s OR whatever is in the user's loaded config.
+        # Floor check: must be a positive int, not crashed.
+        assert isinstance(timeout, int)
+        assert timeout > 0
+
+
+class TestGatewayTextIntercept:
+    """The gateway's _handle_message intercepts text replies to pending clarifies."""
+
+    def setup_method(self):
+        _clear_clarify_state()
+
+    def test_get_pending_for_session_returns_oldest_text_awaiting(self):
+        """When two clarifies are pending, get_pending_for_session returns the
+        first that is awaiting_text (the older one if both)."""
+        from tools import clarify_gateway as cm
+
+        # Older multi-choice (not awaiting text)
+        cm.register("first", "sk", "Q1?", ["A"])
+        # Newer open-ended (awaiting text)
+        cm.register("second", "sk", "Q2?", None)
+
+        pending = cm.get_pending_for_session("sk")
+        # The newer one is awaiting text; the older isn't.
+        assert pending is not None
+        assert pending.clarify_id == "second"
+
+        # Now flip the first to text mode too.  Both are awaiting text,
+        # FIFO returns the older one.
+        cm.mark_awaiting_text("first")
+        pending2 = cm.get_pending_for_session("sk")
+        assert pending2 is not None
+        assert pending2.clarify_id == "first"
diff --git a/tools/clarify_gateway.py b/tools/clarify_gateway.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..585d167625d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/clarify_gateway.py
@@ -0,0 +1,278 @@
+"""Gateway-side clarify primitive (blocking event-based queue).
+
+The ``clarify`` tool needs to ask the user a question and block the agent
+thread until they respond.  In CLI mode this is trivial — ``input()`` is
+synchronous.  In gateway mode the agent runs on a worker thread while the
+event loop handles the user's reply, so we need a thread-safe primitive
+that:
+
+  * stores a pending clarify request (with a generated ``clarify_id``),
+  * blocks the agent thread on an ``Event``,
+  * resolves the wait when the gateway's button-callback or text-intercept
+    fires ``resolve_gateway_clarify(clarify_id, response)``,
+  * supports timeouts so a user who never responds does NOT hang the agent
+    thread forever (which would also pin the gateway's running-agent guard).
+
+State is module-level (same shape as ``tools.approval``) so platform
+adapters can call ``resolve_gateway_clarify`` without holding a back-
+reference to the ``GatewayRunner`` instance.
+
+Two delivery paths from the adapter:
+
+  1. **Button UI** — adapters override ``send_clarify`` to render inline
+     buttons (e.g. Telegram ``InlineKeyboardMarkup``).  The button
+     callback resolves with the chosen string.  A final "Other (type
+     answer)" button enters text-capture mode for free-form responses.
+
+  2. **Text fallback** — adapters without rich UI render a numbered list.
+     The user replies with a number ("2") or with free text; the gateway's
+     ``_handle_message`` intercepts the reply and resolves directly.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import logging
+import threading
+import time
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+from typing import Callable, Dict, List, Optional
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+# =========================================================================
+# Module-level state
+# =========================================================================
+
+@dataclass
+class _ClarifyEntry:
+    """One pending clarify request inside a gateway session."""
+    clarify_id: str
+    session_key: str
+    question: str
+    choices: Optional[List[str]]
+    event: threading.Event = field(default_factory=threading.Event)
+    response: Optional[str] = None
+    awaiting_text: bool = False  # set when user picked "Other" or clarify is open-ended
+
+    def signature(self) -> Dict[str, object]:
+        return {
+            "clarify_id": self.clarify_id,
+            "session_key": self.session_key,
+            "question": self.question,
+            "choices": list(self.choices) if self.choices else None,
+        }
+
+
+_lock = threading.RLock()
+# clarify_id → _ClarifyEntry  (primary lookup for button callbacks)
+_entries: Dict[str, _ClarifyEntry] = {}
+# session_key → list[clarify_id]  (FIFO; for text-fallback intercept and session cleanup)
+_session_index: Dict[str, List[str]] = {}
+
+
+# =========================================================================
+# Public API — agent-thread side
+# =========================================================================
+
+def register(
+    clarify_id: str,
+    session_key: str,
+    question: str,
+    choices: Optional[List[str]],
+) -> _ClarifyEntry:
+    """Register a pending clarify request and return the entry.
+
+    The caller (gateway clarify_callback) will then send the prompt to the
+    user and block on ``wait_for_response(clarify_id, timeout)``.
+    """
+    entry = _ClarifyEntry(
+        clarify_id=clarify_id,
+        session_key=session_key,
+        question=question,
+        choices=list(choices) if choices else None,
+        # Open-ended (no choices) → next message IS the response, no buttons needed.
+        awaiting_text=not bool(choices),
+    )
+    with _lock:
+        _entries[clarify_id] = entry
+        _session_index.setdefault(session_key, []).append(clarify_id)
+    return entry
+
+
+def wait_for_response(clarify_id: str, timeout: float) -> Optional[str]:
+    """Block on the entry's event until resolved or timeout fires.
+
+    Polls in 1-second slices so the agent's inactivity heartbeat keeps
+    firing — without this, ``Event.wait(timeout=600)`` blocks the thread
+    for 10 minutes with zero activity touches and the gateway's inactivity
+    watchdog kills the agent while the user is still typing.
+
+    Returns the resolved response string, or ``None`` on timeout.
+    """
+    with _lock:
+        entry = _entries.get(clarify_id)
+    if entry is None:
+        return None
+
+    try:
+        from tools.environments.base import touch_activity_if_due
+    except Exception:  # pragma: no cover - optional
+        touch_activity_if_due = None
+
+    deadline = time.monotonic() + max(timeout, 0.0)
+    activity_state = {"last_touch": time.monotonic(), "start": time.monotonic()}
+    while True:
+        remaining = deadline - time.monotonic()
+        if remaining <= 0:
+            break
+        if entry.event.wait(timeout=min(1.0, remaining)):
+            break
+        if touch_activity_if_due is not None:
+            touch_activity_if_due(activity_state, "waiting for user clarify response")
+
+    with _lock:
+        # Remove from indices regardless of resolution outcome.
+        _entries.pop(clarify_id, None)
+        ids = _session_index.get(entry.session_key)
+        if ids and clarify_id in ids:
+            ids.remove(clarify_id)
+            if not ids:
+                _session_index.pop(entry.session_key, None)
+
+    return entry.response
+
+
+# =========================================================================
+# Public API — gateway / adapter side
+# =========================================================================
+
+def resolve_gateway_clarify(clarify_id: str, response: str) -> bool:
+    """Unblock the agent thread waiting on ``clarify_id``.
+
+    Returns True if an entry was found and resolved, False otherwise
+    (already resolved, expired, or never existed).
+    """
+    with _lock:
+        entry = _entries.get(clarify_id)
+        if entry is None:
+            return False
+    entry.response = str(response) if response is not None else ""
+    entry.event.set()
+    return True
+
+
+def get_pending_for_session(session_key: str) -> Optional[_ClarifyEntry]:
+    """Return the OLDEST pending clarify entry for a session, or None.
+
+    Used by the text-fallback intercept in ``_handle_message`` — when a
+    clarify is awaiting a free-form text response, the next user message
+    in that session is captured as the answer.
+    """
+    with _lock:
+        ids = _session_index.get(session_key) or []
+        for cid in ids:
+            entry = _entries.get(cid)
+            if entry is None:
+                continue
+            if entry.awaiting_text:
+                return entry
+        return None
+
+
+def mark_awaiting_text(clarify_id: str) -> bool:
+    """Flip an entry into text-capture mode (user picked the 'Other' button).
+
+    Returns True if the entry exists and was flipped, False otherwise.
+    """
+    with _lock:
+        entry = _entries.get(clarify_id)
+        if entry is None:
+            return False
+        entry.awaiting_text = True
+        return True
+
+
+def has_pending(session_key: str) -> bool:
+    """Return True when this session has at least one pending clarify entry."""
+    with _lock:
+        ids = _session_index.get(session_key) or []
+        return any(_entries.get(cid) is not None for cid in ids)
+
+
+def clear_session(session_key: str) -> int:
+    """Resolve and drop every pending clarify for a session.
+
+    Used by session-boundary cleanup (e.g. ``/new``, gateway shutdown,
+    cached-agent eviction) so blocked agent threads don't hang past the
+    end of their session.  Returns the number of entries cancelled.
+    """
+    with _lock:
+        ids = list(_session_index.pop(session_key, []) or [])
+        entries = [_entries.pop(cid, None) for cid in ids]
+    cancelled = 0
+    for entry in entries:
+        if entry is None:
+            continue
+        # Empty string sentinel — agent code can distinguish from a real
+        # response by inspecting the wait_for_response return value
+        # alongside its own timeout deadline.  Most callers just treat any
+        # falsy result as "user did not respond".
+        entry.response = ""
+        entry.event.set()
+        cancelled += 1
+    return cancelled
+
+
+# =========================================================================
+# Config
+# =========================================================================
+
+def get_clarify_timeout() -> int:
+    """Read the clarify response timeout (seconds) from config.
+
+    Defaults to 600 (10 minutes) — long enough for the user to type a
+    thoughtful response, short enough that an abandoned prompt eventually
+    unblocks the agent thread instead of pinning the running-agent guard
+    forever.
+
+    Reads ``agent.clarify_timeout`` from config.yaml.
+    """
+    try:
+        from hermes_cli.config import load_config
+        cfg = load_config() or {}
+        agent_cfg = cfg.get("agent", {}) or {}
+        return int(agent_cfg.get("clarify_timeout", 600))
+    except Exception:
+        return 600
+
+
+# =========================================================================
+# Per-session notify hook (gateway → adapter bridge)
+# =========================================================================
+# Mirrors tools.approval's _gateway_notify_cbs: the gateway registers a
+# per-session callback that sends the clarify prompt to the user.  The
+# callback bridges sync→async (runs on the agent thread; schedules the
+# adapter ``send_clarify`` call on the event loop).
+
+_notify_cbs: Dict[str, Callable[[_ClarifyEntry], None]] = {}
+
+
+def register_notify(session_key: str, cb: Callable[[_ClarifyEntry], None]) -> None:
+    """Register a per-session notify callback used by ``clarify_callback``."""
+    with _lock:
+        _notify_cbs[session_key] = cb
+
+
+def unregister_notify(session_key: str) -> None:
+    """Drop the per-session notify callback and cancel any pending clarify entries."""
+    with _lock:
+        _notify_cbs.pop(session_key, None)
+    # Cancel any pending entries so blocked threads unwind when the run
+    # ends (interrupt, completion, gateway shutdown).
+    clear_session(session_key)
+
+
+def get_notify(session_key: str) -> Optional[Callable[[_ClarifyEntry], None]]:
+    with _lock:
+        return _notify_cbs.get(session_key)
diff --git a/website/docs/user-guide/messaging/telegram.md b/website/docs/user-guide/messaging/telegram.md
index ffbc9dfe074..95d9313c05e 100644
--- a/website/docs/user-guide/messaging/telegram.md
+++ b/website/docs/user-guide/messaging/telegram.md
@@ -907,6 +907,19 @@ When the agent tries to run a potentially dangerous command, it asks you for app
 
 Reply "yes"/"y" to approve or "no"/"n" to deny.
 
+## Interactive Prompts (clarify)
+
+When the agent calls the `clarify` tool — to ask which approach you prefer, get post-task feedback, or check before a non-trivial decision — Telegram renders the question with **inline keyboard buttons**:
+
+> ❓ Which framework should I use for the dashboard?
+>
+> [1. Next.js] [2. Remix] [3. Astro]
+> [✏️ Other (type answer)]
+
+Tap a button to answer, or tap **Other** to type a free-form response (the next message you send becomes the answer). Open-ended `clarify` calls (no preset choices) skip the buttons and just capture your next message.
+
+Configure the response timeout via `agent.clarify_timeout` in `~/.hermes/config.yaml` (default `600` seconds). If you don't respond within the timeout, the agent unblocks with a sentinel message and adapts rather than hanging.
+
 ## Security
 
 :::warning