Remote Control (iPhone): native MCP tool-permission dialogs never render — session blocks invisibly (AskUserQuestion cards render fine)
Summary: Claude Code Remote Control (iPhone client) fails to render native tool-permission
dialogs for MCP tools, while AskUserQuestion cards in the same session render fine. The session
blocks server-side on an invisible prompt; from the phone it looks idle.
Environment: Claude Code (harness 2.1.x line), headless tmux sessions launched via systemd
with --remote-control, Ubuntu 24.04. RC client: claude.ai on iPhone.
Repro (2 instances, 2026-08-18, same session "DevAgent", Opus 5, auto mode):
- 14:46 BST — AskUserQuestion answered via iPhone RC → renders + works.
- 14:47 BST — DesignSync MCP tool call ("Create project") raises the native permission dialog
("This creates a new project on your claude.ai account. Do you want to proceed? 1. Yes / 2. No
· Esc to cancel · Tab to amend"). Dialog live in the tmux pane (verified via capture-pane) but
never appears on the iPhone RC view. Session parked ~2h until answered from a terminal.
- 19:2x BST — same class again: DesignSync "Upload design system (4 to upload)" review dialog.
Same behaviour: pane shows it, phone doesn't.
Expected: permission prompts surface on RC (they are the highest-value thing to surface —
the session cannot proceed without them).
Impact: remote operator cannot unblock a permission-gated session from the phone; no !
composer escape exists on RC either (input arrives as chat text).
Possibly relevant: the dialogs that fail are MCP-tool permission prompts with long tool
descriptions + the newer "Tab to amend" UI; plain AskUserQuestion cards work.