[BUG] Claude code cannot process images sent via MCP or get images from URL

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

Claude Code cannot view image content by URL. However it can process images, if the image is stored locally.
This is a big issue for a huge range of processes; SEO, site testing, research ( where docs contain images / charts ), even planning, when you include UI photos in the feature spec and analysis docs.

This bug is identical to the one mentioned here, which was closed because OP identified it as Claude Desktop related rather than Claude Code related.
https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/5907

What Should Happen?

Claude code should be able to view image content regardless of the source and location of the image, provided it has access.

Error Messages/Logs

None, just "I cannot view that image"

Steps to Reproduce

1. Pick any public image URL, go for easy ones like GIF / JPG / PNG for the basic test ( WEBP / AVIF should also be supported )
2. Ask claude code to describe the image.

It will tell you that it can't, and attempt to guess based on the URL text itself.

1. Download that image locally.
2. Present the local path to Claude

It will read it fine.

Confirmed with Opus 4.5, Sonnet 4.5, Haiku 4.5

Claude Model

Opus

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.12

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

VS Code integrated terminal

Additional Information

_No response_