fix(profiles): canonical reconciler ops and guard raw branch delete (#687)

Address REQUEST_CHANGES on PR #688:

- migrate_profiles: emit fully canonical reconciler/author/reviewer defaults;
  canonicalize explicit ops; fail if reconciler loses required pr.close/read
- gitea_delete_branch: deny reconciler (and non-author roles); refuse
  preservation/protected branches before any API call
- gitea_cleanup_merged_pr_branch: require reconciler role only; block
  preservation/evidence branches via branch_cleanup_guard
- docs: end-to-end operator runbook for profile migrate/apply/reconnect/cleanup
- tests: migration canonicalization, idempotency, raw-delete denial, guarded
  cleanup success and unmerged/preserve rejections

Closes #687.

branch_cleanup_guard.py

@@ -7,6 +7,19 @@ from typing import Any
 
 PROTECTED_BRANCHES = frozenset({"master", "main", "dev"})
 
+# Evidence / preservation branches must never be removed by cleanup tools
+# (e.g. chore/issue-681-preserve-review-session-wip).
+_PRESERVATION_MARKERS = ("preserve", "preservation", "evidence")
+
+
+def is_preservation_or_evidence_branch(branch: str | None) -> bool:
+    """Return True when *branch* is a preservation/evidence ref that must stay."""
+    if not branch:
+        return False
+    name = str(branch).lower()
+    return any(marker in name for marker in _PRESERVATION_MARKERS)
+
+
 _RAW_BRANCH_DELETE_PATTERNS = (
     re.compile(r"\bgit(?:\s+-C\s+\S+)?\s+branch\s+-[dD]\b[^\n\r]*", re.I),
     re.compile(r"\bgit(?:\s+-C\s+\S+)?\s+push\b[^\n\r]*\s--delete\b[^\n\r]*", re.I),
@@ -72,6 +85,11 @@ def assess_merged_pr_branch_cleanup(
         reasons.append("PR head branch is missing")
     if head_branch in protected:
         reasons.append(f"branch '{head_branch}' is protected")
+    if is_preservation_or_evidence_branch(head_branch):
+        reasons.append(
+            f"branch '{head_branch}' is a preservation/evidence branch and "
+            "cannot be deleted through merged-PR cleanup"
+        )
     if head_branch in open_pr_heads:
         reasons.append("an open PR still references this head branch")
     if head_on_target is False:

docs/gitea-execution-profiles.md

@@ -259,17 +259,21 @@ Least-privilege constraints:
   reviewer, and merger profiles must never hold it; `gitea_delete_branch`
   and `gitea_cleanup_merged_pr_branch` fail closed on any profile without
   the permission.
-- Even with the permission, deletion is only supported through the guarded
+- Even with the permission, reconciler deletion is only supported through the
-  `gitea_cleanup_merged_pr_branch` path (#514): the PR must be merged, the
+  guarded `gitea_cleanup_merged_pr_branch` path (#514 / #687): the PR must be
-  head an ancestor of the target, the branch not protected
+  merged, the head an ancestor of the target, the branch not protected
-  (`master`/`main`/`dev`), no open PR may still use the head, and an
+  (`master`/`main`/`dev`), the branch not a preservation/evidence ref (e.g.
-  explicit `CLEANUP MERGED PR <n> BRANCH <branch>` confirmation is
+  `chore/issue-681-preserve-review-session-wip`), no open PR may still use the
-  required.
+  head, and an explicit `CLEANUP MERGED PR <n> BRANCH <branch>` confirmation is
+  required. Raw `gitea_delete_branch` is **denied** to reconciler even when
+  `gitea.branch.delete` is present.
 - Raw `git branch -d` / `git push --delete` cleanup remains blocked by
   `branch_cleanup_guard` and the final-report validator regardless of
   profile permissions.
 - `gitea.branch.delete` has no short alias in `GITEA_OPERATION_ALIASES`;
-  write it fully qualified in `allowed_operations`.
+  write it fully qualified in `allowed_operations`. Migration must emit
+  canonical names such as `gitea.pr.close` (never bare `pr.close` /
+  `issue.close`, which the production normalizer rejects or drops).
 
 Launch a static `gitea-reconciler` MCP namespace with
 `GITEA_MCP_PROFILE=prgs-reconciler`. Profile shape is validated by
@@ -279,6 +283,159 @@ Launch a static `gitea-reconciler` MCP namespace with
 fresh target-branch fetch, recorded target SHA, and ancestor proof. PRs whose
 heads are not already landed cannot be closed through this path.
 
+### Operational runbook: grant reconciler `gitea.branch.delete` (#687)
+
+Merging a code PR that updates `migrate_profiles.py` / `reconciler_profile.py`
+**does not** change the live operator profile on disk. Apply the profile
+change deliberately, then reconnect the client-managed namespace.
+
+1. **Approved migration / profile-update command** (from the repo root, using
+   the project venv if present):
+
+   ```bash
+   # Dry-run first (default): validates v2 output, writes nothing
+   python3 migrate_profiles.py -i ~/.config/gitea-tools/profiles.json
+
+   # Apply: creates backup then writes migrated v2 config
+   python3 migrate_profiles.py -i ~/.config/gitea-tools/profiles.json -w
+   # Optional explicit paths:
+   # python3 migrate_profiles.py -i ~/.config/gitea-tools/profiles.json \
+   #   -o ~/.config/gitea-tools/profiles.json \
+   #   --backup ~/.config/gitea-tools/profiles.json.bak -w
+   ```
+
+   If the live file is already v2, edit the reconciler identity’s
+   `allowed_operations` / `forbidden_operations` under
+   `environments.<env>.services.gitea.identities.reconciler` (or the
+   `prgs-reconciler` alias target) so allowed includes the canonical set
+   below — then re-validate with a load of the config (see step 3).
+
+2. **Inspect the generated (or edited) profile** — confirm the reconciler
+   identity, for example:
+
+   ```bash
+   python3 - <<'PY'
+   import json
+   from pathlib import Path
+   cfg = json.loads(Path.home().joinpath(".config/gitea-tools/profiles.json").read_text())
+   # v2 environments shape:
+   ident = cfg["environments"]["prgs"]["services"]["gitea"]["identities"]["reconciler"]
+   print("role:", ident.get("role"))
+   print("allowed:", ident.get("allowed_operations"))
+   print("forbidden:", ident.get("forbidden_operations"))
+   PY
+   ```
+
+3. **Validate canonical operation names and least privilege**
+
+   Expected canonical **allowed** (defaults after migration):
+
+   - `gitea.read`
+   - `gitea.pr.close` (required)
+   - `gitea.pr.comment`
+   - `gitea.issue.comment`
+   - `gitea.issue.close`
+   - `gitea.branch.delete` (recommended; cleanup only)
+
+   Expected **forbidden** includes at least: `gitea.pr.approve`,
+   `gitea.pr.merge`, `gitea.pr.review`, `gitea.pr.create`,
+   `gitea.branch.push`, `gitea.repo.commit`.
+
+   No shorthand (`pr.close`, `issue.close`, `pr.comment`) may remain.
+   Validate with the production loader:
+
+   ```bash
+   python3 - <<'PY'
+   import gitea_config, reconciler_profile
+   from pathlib import Path
+   path = str(Path.home() / ".config/gitea-tools/profiles.json")
+   gitea_config.load_config(path)  # fails closed on invalid config
+   # Or assess the reconciler lists directly after extracting them:
+   # print(reconciler_profile.assess_reconciler_profile(allowed, forbidden))
+   PY
+   ```
+
+4. **Merging PR #688 (or any code PR) does not update the live profile.**
+   Code changes only the migration helper, schema, docs, and tests. The
+   operator must still run `migrate_profiles.py -w` or an equivalent
+   authorized edit of `~/.config/gitea-tools/profiles.json`.
+
+5. **Supported apply method:** `python3 migrate_profiles.py … -w` (backup
+   created automatically) **or** operator-authorized edit of the live
+   profiles file after backup. Unsupported: silent mtime tricks, manual
+   process kill to “reload”, or undocumented env overrides.
+
+6. **Backup and validation:** `-w` copies the input to
+   `<input_path>.bak` (or `--backup PATH`) before writing. Re-run
+   `load_config` / `assess_reconciler_profile` after write. Keep the
+   `.bak` until live whoami/capability checks pass.
+
+7. **Client-managed namespace reconnect/reload:** reconnect or reload the
+   IDE MCP client so `gitea-reconciler` restarts from current `master` and
+   the updated `GITEA_MCP_PROFILE=prgs-reconciler` config. Do not hand-launch
+   `mcp_server.py` / `gitea_mcp_server.py` with ad hoc `GITEA_*` env
+   (see #686 / #630).
+
+8. **Live reverification** (through the client-managed `gitea-reconciler`
+   namespace only):
+
+   - `gitea_whoami` → identity + profile `prgs-reconciler`
+   - `gitea_assess_master_parity` → `stale=false`, `restart_required=false`
+   - `gitea_resolve_task_capability(task="cleanup_merged_pr_branch")` →
+     `allowed_in_current_session=true` only when permission and role match
+   - `gitea_resolve_task_capability(task="delete_branch")` →
+     **not** allowed for reconciler (role denial must be enforced)
+
+9. **Guarded cleanup usage** (example for a merged PR whose source branch
+   remains on the remote):
+
+   ```text
+   gitea_cleanup_merged_pr_branch(
+     pr_number=<N>,
+     branch=<exact PR head branch>,
+     confirmation="CLEANUP MERGED PR <N> BRANCH <exact PR head branch>",
+     remote="prgs",
+     org="Scaled-Tech-Consulting",
+     repo="Gitea-Tools",
+     worktree_path="<path under branches/>",
+   )
+   ```
+
+   The tool refuses unmerged PRs, protected branches, preservation/evidence
+   branches, open-PR heads, mismatched branch names, and wrong confirmation.
+
+10. **Prohibitions**
+
+    - No raw `git push --delete`, `git branch -d` / `-D`, or delete refspecs
+    - No arbitrary `gitea_delete_branch` from reconciler
+    - No unsupported profile switching mid-run without full re-preflight
+    - No ad hoc hand-edits of live profiles **unless** operator-authorized,
+      backed up, and revalidated as above
+
+Canonical migrated reconciler example:
+
+```json
+{
+  "role": "reconciler",
+  "allowed_operations": [
+    "gitea.read",
+    "gitea.pr.close",
+    "gitea.pr.comment",
+    "gitea.issue.comment",
+    "gitea.issue.close",
+    "gitea.branch.delete"
+  ],
+  "forbidden_operations": [
+    "gitea.pr.approve",
+    "gitea.pr.merge",
+    "gitea.pr.review",
+    "gitea.pr.create",
+    "gitea.branch.push",
+    "gitea.repo.commit"
+  ]
+}
+```
+
 ## Identity and fail-closed rules
 
 Before **any** mutating action, a workflow must know both:

gitea_mcp_server.py

@@ -5925,6 +5925,65 @@ def gitea_delete_branch(
             "permission_report": _permission_block_report("gitea.branch.delete"),
         }
 
+    # Possessing gitea.branch.delete alone is not enough for arbitrary deletion.
+    # task_capability_map maps delete_branch → author; reconciler must use the
+    # guarded cleanup_merged_pr_branch path only (#687 / #514).
+    profile = get_profile()
+    active_role = _profile_role_kind(profile)
+    required_role = task_capability_map.required_role("delete_branch")
+    if active_role == "reconciler":
+        return {
+            "success": False,
+            "performed": False,
+            "required_permission": "gitea.branch.delete",
+            "required_role_kind": required_role,
+            "active_role_kind": active_role,
+            "reasons": [
+                "reconciler profile cannot use raw gitea_delete_branch; "
+                "use gitea_cleanup_merged_pr_branch for a fully merged PR "
+                "source branch only (fail closed)"
+            ],
+            "exact_next_action": (
+                "Call gitea_cleanup_merged_pr_branch with pr_number, the "
+                "exact PR head branch, and confirmation "
+                "'CLEANUP MERGED PR <n> BRANCH <branch>' after capability "
+                "resolve for cleanup_merged_pr_branch."
+            ),
+            "permission_report": _permission_block_report("gitea.branch.delete"),
+        }
+    if active_role != required_role:
+        return {
+            "success": False,
+            "performed": False,
+            "required_permission": "gitea.branch.delete",
+            "required_role_kind": required_role,
+            "active_role_kind": active_role,
+            "reasons": [
+                f"Active profile role '{active_role}' cannot perform "
+                f"{required_role} task 'delete_branch' even when "
+                "gitea.branch.delete is present (fail closed)"
+            ],
+            "permission_report": _permission_block_report("gitea.branch.delete"),
+        }
+
+    if branch_cleanup_guard.is_preservation_or_evidence_branch(branch):
+        return {
+            "success": False,
+            "performed": False,
+            "required_permission": "gitea.branch.delete",
+            "reasons": [
+                f"branch '{branch}' is a preservation/evidence branch and "
+                "cannot be deleted (fail closed)"
+            ],
+        }
+    if branch in branch_cleanup_guard.PROTECTED_BRANCHES:
+        return {
+            "success": False,
+            "performed": False,
+            "required_permission": "gitea.branch.delete",
+            "reasons": [f"branch '{branch}' is protected (fail closed)"],
+        }
+
     audit_allowed, audit_reasons = (
         audit_reconciliation_mode.check_audit_mutation_allowed("delete_branch")
     )
@@ -5976,18 +6035,20 @@ def gitea_cleanup_merged_pr_branch(
         }
 
     profile = get_profile()
-    active_role = _role_kind(
+    active_role = _profile_role_kind(profile)
-        profile.get("allowed_operations", []),
+    # cleanup_merged_pr_branch is reconciler-owned (task_capability_map).
-        profile.get("forbidden_operations", []),
+    # Author/reviewer/merger must not reach this path even if they somehow
-    )
+    # hold gitea.branch.delete.
-    if active_role == "reviewer":
+    if active_role != "reconciler":
         return {
             "success": False,
             "performed": False,
             "required_permission": "gitea.branch.delete",
+            "required_role_kind": "reconciler",
+            "active_role_kind": active_role,
             "reasons": [
-                "reviewer profile is not authorized for merged branch cleanup "
+                f"profile role '{active_role}' is not authorized for merged "
-                "(fail closed)"
+                "branch cleanup; required role is reconciler (fail closed)"
             ],
             "permission_report": _permission_block_report("gitea.branch.delete"),
         }
@@ -11269,6 +11330,8 @@ def gitea_resolve_task_capability(
         "gitea_commit_files",
         "address_pr_change_requests",
         "delete_branch",
+        "cleanup_merged_pr_branch",
+        "reconciliation_cleanup",
         "work_issue",
         "work-issue",
     }

migrate_profiles.py

@@ -20,19 +20,115 @@ if PROJECT_ROOT not in sys.path:
 import gitea_config
 
 
-AUTHOR_DEFAULT_ALLOWED = ["read", "branch", "commit", "push", "open_pr", "comment"]
+# Defaults emit *canonical* operation names only. Shorthand that is not in
-AUTHOR_DEFAULT_FORBIDDEN = ["approve", "request_changes", "merge"]
+# gitea_config.GITEA_OPERATION_ALIASES (e.g. ``pr.close``, ``issue.close``)
-REVIEWER_DEFAULT_ALLOWED = [
+# is silently dropped by the production loader and must never appear here.
-    "read", "review", "comment", "approve", "request_changes", "merge"
+AUTHOR_DEFAULT_ALLOWED = [
+    "gitea.read",
+    "gitea.branch.create",
+    "gitea.repo.commit",
+    "gitea.branch.push",
+    "gitea.pr.create",
+    "gitea.pr.comment",
 ]
-REVIEWER_DEFAULT_FORBIDDEN = ["branch", "commit", "push", "open_pr"]
+AUTHOR_DEFAULT_FORBIDDEN = [
+    "gitea.pr.approve",
+    "gitea.pr.request_changes",
+    "gitea.pr.merge",
+]
+REVIEWER_DEFAULT_ALLOWED = [
+    "gitea.read",
+    "gitea.pr.review",
+    "gitea.pr.comment",
+    "gitea.pr.approve",
+    "gitea.pr.request_changes",
+    "gitea.pr.merge",
+]
+REVIEWER_DEFAULT_FORBIDDEN = [
+    "gitea.branch.create",
+    "gitea.repo.commit",
+    "gitea.branch.push",
+    "gitea.pr.create",
+]
+# Required reconciler ops (read + pr.close) plus recommended comment/close and
+# branch.delete for guarded merged-PR cleanup. All names must normalize via
+# gitea_config.normalize_operation without being dropped.
 RECONCILER_DEFAULT_ALLOWED = [
-    "read", "pr.close", "pr.comment", "issue.comment", "issue.close", "gitea.branch.delete"
+    "gitea.read",
+    "gitea.pr.close",
+    "gitea.pr.comment",
+    "gitea.issue.comment",
+    "gitea.issue.close",
+    "gitea.branch.delete",
 ]
 RECONCILER_DEFAULT_FORBIDDEN = [
-    "approve", "merge", "review", "pr.create", "branch.push", "commit"
+    "gitea.pr.approve",
+    "gitea.pr.merge",
+    "gitea.pr.review",
+    "gitea.pr.create",
+    "gitea.branch.push",
+    "gitea.repo.commit",
 ]
 
+# Migration-only expansions for common shorthands that are *not* in
+# GITEA_OPERATION_ALIASES. Emitted output is always the canonical form so a
+# second canonicalize pass is a no-op (idempotent).
+_MIGRATION_ONLY_ALIASES = {
+    "pr.close": "gitea.pr.close",
+    "pr.comment": "gitea.pr.comment",
+    "issue.close": "gitea.issue.close",
+    "branch.delete": "gitea.branch.delete",
+}
+
+# Reconciler required ops that must survive migration (from reconciler_profile).
+RECONCILER_REQUIRED_CANONICAL = ("gitea.read", "gitea.pr.close")
+
+
+def canonicalize_operation(op: str) -> str:
+    """Return a canonical operation name accepted by the production loader.
+
+    Fail closed on unknown/ambiguous spellings so required permissions cannot
+    be silently dropped by ``check_operation`` later.
+    """
+    if not isinstance(op, str) or not op.strip():
+        raise ValueError("operation must be a non-empty string (fail closed)")
+    op = op.strip()
+    try:
+        return gitea_config.normalize_operation(op)
+    except gitea_config.ConfigError:
+        pass
+    if op in _MIGRATION_ONLY_ALIASES:
+        return _MIGRATION_ONLY_ALIASES[op]
+    raise ValueError(
+        f"operation {op!r} cannot be canonicalized for migration "
+        "(unknown/ambiguous; fail closed — production loader would drop it)"
+    )
+
+
+def canonicalize_operations(ops, *, context: str = "operations") -> list[str]:
+    """Canonicalize a list of operations; preserve order, drop duplicates."""
+    if not isinstance(ops, list):
+        raise ValueError(f"{context} must be a list (fail closed)")
+    out: list[str] = []
+    seen: set[str] = set()
+    for entry in ops:
+        canon = canonicalize_operation(entry)
+        if canon not in seen:
+            seen.add(canon)
+            out.append(canon)
+    return out
+
+
+def _assert_reconciler_required_survive(allowed: list[str], profile_name: str) -> None:
+    """Fail visibly when migration would leave a reconciler without required ops."""
+    missing = [op for op in RECONCILER_REQUIRED_CANONICAL if op not in set(allowed)]
+    if missing:
+        raise ValueError(
+            f"Profile '{profile_name}' (reconciler) is missing required "
+            f"operation(s) after migration: {missing}. Refusing to emit a "
+            "profile that would silently fail pr.close / read (fail closed)."
+        )
+
 
 def infer_role(name, execution_profile):
     """Return the unambiguous role for a legacy profile name, or None."""
@@ -132,8 +228,15 @@ def migrate_v1_to_v2(v1_data):
                 raise ValueError(
                     f"Profile '{name}' operation fields must be lists"
                 )
-            identity_data["allowed_operations"] = list(allowed)
+            try:
-            identity_data["forbidden_operations"] = list(forbidden)
+                identity_data["allowed_operations"] = canonicalize_operations(
+                    allowed, context=f"profile '{name}' allowed_operations"
+                )
+                identity_data["forbidden_operations"] = canonicalize_operations(
+                    forbidden, context=f"profile '{name}' forbidden_operations"
+                )
+            except ValueError as exc:
+                raise ValueError(f"Profile '{name}': {exc}") from exc
         elif role == "author":
             identity_data["allowed_operations"] = list(AUTHOR_DEFAULT_ALLOWED)
             identity_data["forbidden_operations"] = list(AUTHOR_DEFAULT_FORBIDDEN)
@@ -149,6 +252,11 @@ def migrate_v1_to_v2(v1_data):
                 "unambiguous author/reviewer role marker (fail closed)"
             )
 
+        if role == "reconciler":
+            _assert_reconciler_required_survive(
+                identity_data["allowed_operations"], name
+            )
+
         # Nest inside environments/services structure
         env = environments.setdefault(env_name, {})
         services = env.setdefault("services", {})

tests/test_audit_reconciliation_mode.py

@@ -27,7 +27,13 @@ from task_capability_map import required_permission, required_role
 
 DELETE_PROFILE = {
     "profile_name": "prgs-author-delete",
-    "allowed_operations": ["gitea.read", "gitea.branch.delete"],
+    "role": "author",
+    "allowed_operations": [
+        "gitea.read",
+        "gitea.pr.create",
+        "gitea.branch.push",
+        "gitea.branch.delete",
+    ],
     "forbidden_operations": [],
     "audit_label": "prgs-author-delete",
 }

tests/test_branch_cleanup_guard.py

@@ -8,10 +8,33 @@ import branch_cleanup_guard as guard  # noqa: E402
 import mcp_server  # noqa: E402
 import task_capability_map  # noqa: E402
 from final_report_validator import assess_final_report_validator  # noqa: E402
-from mcp_server import gitea_cleanup_merged_pr_branch  # noqa: E402
+from mcp_server import gitea_cleanup_merged_pr_branch, gitea_delete_branch  # noqa: E402
 
 FAKE_AUTH = "token fake"
 
+# Reconciler-shaped profile that holds branch.delete (recommended) plus
+# required pr.close/read so _role_kind classifies as reconciler.
+RECONCILER_WITH_DELETE = {
+    "profile_name": "prgs-reconciler",
+    "role": "reconciler",
+    "allowed_operations": [
+        "gitea.read",
+        "gitea.pr.close",
+        "gitea.pr.comment",
+        "gitea.issue.comment",
+        "gitea.issue.close",
+        "gitea.branch.delete",
+    ],
+    "forbidden_operations": [
+        "gitea.pr.approve",
+        "gitea.pr.merge",
+        "gitea.pr.review",
+        "gitea.pr.create",
+        "gitea.branch.push",
+        "gitea.repo.commit",
+    ],
+}
+
 
 class TestRawBranchDeleteGuard(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_detects_local_and_remote_raw_git_delete_commands(self):
@@ -134,11 +157,7 @@ class TestMergedPrBranchCleanupTool(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_root_checkout_cleanup_fails_closed(self):
         patch(
             "mcp_server.get_profile",
-            return_value={
+            return_value=dict(RECONCILER_WITH_DELETE),
-                "profile_name": "branch-cleanup",
-                "allowed_operations": ["gitea.read", "gitea.branch.delete"],
-                "forbidden_operations": [],
-            },
         ).start()
         res = gitea_cleanup_merged_pr_branch(
             pr_number=487,
@@ -155,11 +174,7 @@ class TestMergedPrBranchCleanupTool(unittest.TestCase):
         branch = "feat/issue-485-lease-comments-non-list-guard"
         patch(
             "mcp_server.get_profile",
-            return_value={
+            return_value=dict(RECONCILER_WITH_DELETE),
-                "profile_name": "branch-cleanup",
-                "allowed_operations": ["gitea.read", "gitea.branch.delete"],
-                "forbidden_operations": [],
-            },
         ).start()
         self.mock_api.side_effect = [
             {
@@ -190,11 +205,7 @@ class TestMergedPrBranchCleanupTool(unittest.TestCase):
         branch = "feat/issue-485-lease-comments-non-list-guard"
         patch(
             "mcp_server.get_profile",
-            return_value={
+            return_value=dict(RECONCILER_WITH_DELETE),
-                "profile_name": "branch-cleanup",
-                "allowed_operations": ["gitea.read", "gitea.branch.delete"],
-                "forbidden_operations": [],
-            },
         ).start()
         self.mock_api.side_effect = [
             {
@@ -220,6 +231,168 @@ class TestMergedPrBranchCleanupTool(unittest.TestCase):
         ]
         self.assertFalse(delete_calls)
 
+    def test_reconciler_with_branch_delete_cannot_raw_delete(self):
+        """#687: reconciler + gitea.branch.delete still cannot call raw delete."""
+        patch(
+            "mcp_server.get_profile",
+            return_value=dict(RECONCILER_WITH_DELETE),
+        ).start()
+        res = gitea_delete_branch(
+            branch="fix/issue-683-workflow-guard-hardening",
+            remote="prgs",
+        )
+        self.assertFalse(res.get("success", True))
+        self.assertFalse(res.get("performed", True))
+        reasons = " ".join(res.get("reasons") or [])
+        self.assertIn("raw gitea_delete_branch", reasons)
+        self.assertIn("cleanup_merged_pr_branch", reasons)
+        self.mock_api.assert_not_called()
+
+    def test_reconciler_raw_delete_denies_preservation_branch(self):
+        patch(
+            "mcp_server.get_profile",
+            return_value=dict(RECONCILER_WITH_DELETE),
+        ).start()
+        res = gitea_delete_branch(
+            branch="chore/issue-681-preserve-review-session-wip",
+            remote="prgs",
+        )
+        self.assertFalse(res.get("performed", True))
+        self.mock_api.assert_not_called()
+
+    def test_author_with_branch_delete_role_ok_but_preserve_blocked(self):
+        """Author role may use raw delete path when permitted; preserve fails closed."""
+        patch(
+            "mcp_server.get_profile",
+            return_value={
+                "profile_name": "prgs-author",
+                "role": "author",
+                "allowed_operations": [
+                    "gitea.read",
+                    "gitea.pr.create",
+                    "gitea.branch.push",
+                    "gitea.branch.delete",
+                ],
+                "forbidden_operations": ["gitea.pr.approve", "gitea.pr.merge"],
+            },
+        ).start()
+        res = gitea_delete_branch(
+            branch="chore/issue-681-preserve-review-session-wip",
+            remote="prgs",
+        )
+        self.assertFalse(res.get("performed", True))
+        self.assertIn("preservation", " ".join(res.get("reasons") or []))
+        self.mock_api.assert_not_called()
+
+    def test_unmerged_branch_cleanup_rejected(self):
+        branch = "feat/unmerged-work"
+        patch(
+            "mcp_server.get_profile",
+            return_value=dict(RECONCILER_WITH_DELETE),
+        ).start()
+        self.mock_api.side_effect = [
+            {
+                "number": 999,
+                "merged": False,
+                "merged_at": None,
+                "head": {"ref": branch, "sha": "b" * 40},
+                "base": {"ref": "master"},
+            },
+            {},
+        ]
+        res = gitea_cleanup_merged_pr_branch(
+            pr_number=999,
+            confirmation=f"CLEANUP MERGED PR 999 BRANCH {branch}",
+            branch=branch,
+            remote="prgs",
+            worktree_path="/tmp/repo/branches/cleanup",
+        )
+        self.assertFalse(res["performed"])
+        self.assertTrue(
+            any("not merged" in r for r in (res.get("reasons") or []))
+        )
+        delete_calls = [
+            call for call in self.mock_api.call_args_list if call.args[0] == "DELETE"
+        ]
+        self.assertFalse(delete_calls)
+
+    def test_preservation_branch_cleanup_rejected(self):
+        branch = "chore/issue-681-preserve-review-session-wip"
+        patch(
+            "mcp_server.get_profile",
+            return_value=dict(RECONCILER_WITH_DELETE),
+        ).start()
+        self.mock_api.side_effect = [
+            {
+                "number": 681,
+                "merged": True,
+                "merged_at": "2026-07-08T01:00:00Z",
+                "head": {"ref": branch, "sha": "c" * 40},
+                "base": {"ref": "master"},
+            },
+            {},
+        ]
+        res = gitea_cleanup_merged_pr_branch(
+            pr_number=681,
+            confirmation=f"CLEANUP MERGED PR 681 BRANCH {branch}",
+            branch=branch,
+            remote="prgs",
+            worktree_path="/tmp/repo/branches/cleanup",
+        )
+        self.assertFalse(res["performed"])
+        self.assertTrue(
+            any("preservation" in r for r in (res.get("reasons") or []))
+        )
+        delete_calls = [
+            call for call in self.mock_api.call_args_list if call.args[0] == "DELETE"
+        ]
+        self.assertFalse(delete_calls)
+
+    def test_non_reconciler_with_delete_denied_cleanup(self):
+        patch(
+            "mcp_server.get_profile",
+            return_value={
+                "profile_name": "prgs-author",
+                "role": "author",
+                "allowed_operations": [
+                    "gitea.read",
+                    "gitea.pr.create",
+                    "gitea.branch.push",
+                    "gitea.branch.delete",
+                ],
+                "forbidden_operations": [],
+            },
+        ).start()
+        res = gitea_cleanup_merged_pr_branch(
+            pr_number=487,
+            confirmation="CLEANUP MERGED PR 487 BRANCH feat/branch",
+            branch="feat/branch",
+            remote="prgs",
+            worktree_path="/tmp/repo/branches/cleanup",
+        )
+        self.assertFalse(res["performed"])
+        self.assertEqual(res.get("required_role_kind"), "reconciler")
+        self.mock_api.assert_not_called()
+
+    def test_assess_guard_rejects_preservation_branch(self):
+        assessment = guard.assess_merged_pr_branch_cleanup(
+            pr_number=681,
+            head_branch="chore/issue-681-preserve-review-session-wip",
+            merged=True,
+            remote_branch_exists=True,
+            open_pr_heads=set(),
+            head_on_target=True,
+            delete_capability_allowed=True,
+            confirmation=(
+                "CLEANUP MERGED PR 681 BRANCH "
+                "chore/issue-681-preserve-review-session-wip"
+            ),
+        )
+        self.assertFalse(assessment["safe_to_delete"])
+        self.assertTrue(
+            any("preservation" in r for r in assessment["block_reasons"])
+        )
+
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()

tests/test_mcp_server.py

@@ -1425,10 +1425,16 @@ class TestReviewPR(unittest.TestCase):
 class TestDeleteBranch(unittest.TestCase):
 
     DELETE_PROFILE = {
-        "profile_name": "test-deleter",
+        "profile_name": "test-author-deleter",
-        "allowed_operations": ["gitea.read", "gitea.branch.delete"],
+        "role": "author",
+        "allowed_operations": [
+            "gitea.read",
+            "gitea.pr.create",
+            "gitea.branch.push",
+            "gitea.branch.delete",
+        ],
         "forbidden_operations": [],
-        "audit_label": "test-deleter",
+        "audit_label": "test-author-deleter",
     }
 
     @patch("mcp_server.get_profile", return_value=DELETE_PROFILE)

tests/test_migrate_profiles.py

@@ -92,14 +92,19 @@ class TestMigrateProfiles(unittest.TestCase):
         author = prgs_gitea["identities"]["author"]
         self.assertEqual(author["username"], "jcwalker3")
         self.assertEqual(author["auth"]["id"], "redacted-author-ref")
-        self.assertEqual(author["allowed_operations"], ["read", "comment"])
+        self.assertEqual(
-        self.assertEqual(author["forbidden_operations"], ["approve", "merge"])
+            author["allowed_operations"], ["gitea.read", "gitea.pr.comment"]
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(
+            author["forbidden_operations"],
+            ["gitea.pr.approve", "gitea.pr.merge"],
+        )
 
         reviewer = prgs_gitea["identities"]["reviewer"]
         self.assertEqual(reviewer["role"], "reviewer")
         self.assertEqual(reviewer["username"], "sysadmin")
         self.assertEqual(reviewer["auth"]["id"], "redacted-reviewer-ref")
-        self.assertIn("merge", reviewer["allowed_operations"])
+        self.assertIn("gitea.pr.merge", reviewer["allowed_operations"])
 
     def test_alias_generation(self):
         """Test that aliases are correctly generated to support old profile names."""
@@ -188,7 +193,7 @@ class TestMigrateProfiles(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertNotIn("token", stdout_output.lower())
 
     def test_explicit_operations_are_preserved(self):
-        """Explicit v1 permissions must not be replaced by role defaults."""
+        """Explicit v1 permissions are canonicalized, not replaced by role defaults."""
         v1_data = json.loads(json.dumps(self.v1_content))
         v1_data["profiles"]["prgs-reviewer"]["allowed_operations"] = ["read"]
         v1_data["profiles"]["prgs-reviewer"]["forbidden_operations"] = ["merge"]
@@ -198,8 +203,8 @@ class TestMigrateProfiles(unittest.TestCase):
             v2_data["environments"]["prgs"]["services"]["gitea"]
             ["identities"]["reviewer"]
         )
-        self.assertEqual(reviewer["allowed_operations"], ["read"])
+        self.assertEqual(reviewer["allowed_operations"], ["gitea.read"])
-        self.assertEqual(reviewer["forbidden_operations"], ["merge"])
+        self.assertEqual(reviewer["forbidden_operations"], ["gitea.pr.merge"])
 
     def test_inferred_role_defaults_only_when_unambiguous(self):
         """Role defaults are allowed only for clear author/reviewer profiles."""
@@ -307,7 +312,10 @@ class TestMigrateProfiles(unittest.TestCase):
             self.assertEqual(cm.exception.code, 1)
 
     def test_reconciler_profile_migration(self):
-        """Verify that reconciler profiles with explicit operations migrate correctly."""
+        """Legacy reconciler shorthands migrate to valid canonical operations."""
+        import gitea_config
+        import reconciler_profile
+
         v1_data = {
             "version": 1,
             "profiles": {
@@ -316,8 +324,22 @@ class TestMigrateProfiles(unittest.TestCase):
                     "username": "reconciler-agent",
                     "auth": {"type": "keychain", "id": "reconciler-ref"},
                     "execution_profile": "prgs-reconciler",
-                    "allowed_operations": ["read", "pr.close", "gitea.branch.delete"],
+                    "allowed_operations": [
-                    "forbidden_operations": ["merge", "approve"]
+                        "read",
+                        "pr.close",
+                        "pr.comment",
+                        "issue.comment",
+                        "issue.close",
+                        "gitea.branch.delete",
+                    ],
+                    "forbidden_operations": [
+                        "merge",
+                        "approve",
+                        "review",
+                        "pr.create",
+                        "branch.push",
+                        "commit",
+                    ],
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -327,12 +349,35 @@ class TestMigrateProfiles(unittest.TestCase):
             ["identities"]["reconciler"]
         )
         self.assertEqual(reconciler["role"], "reconciler")
-        self.assertEqual(reconciler["allowed_operations"], ["read", "pr.close", "gitea.branch.delete"])
+        allowed = reconciler["allowed_operations"]
-        self.assertEqual(reconciler["forbidden_operations"], ["merge", "approve"])
+        forbidden = reconciler["forbidden_operations"]
+        # No invalid shorthand remains
+        for bad in ("pr.close", "pr.comment", "issue.close", "read", "merge"):
+            self.assertNotIn(bad, allowed)
+            self.assertNotIn(bad, forbidden)
+        for required in (
+            "gitea.read",
+            "gitea.pr.close",
+            "gitea.pr.comment",
+            "gitea.issue.comment",
+            "gitea.issue.close",
+            "gitea.branch.delete",
+        ):
+            self.assertIn(required, allowed)
+            # Production loader accepts every allowed op
+            self.assertEqual(
+                gitea_config.normalize_operation(required), required
+            )
         self.assertEqual(v2_data["aliases"]["prgs-reconciler"], "prgs.gitea.reconciler")
+        assessment = reconciler_profile.assess_reconciler_profile(allowed, forbidden)
+        self.assertTrue(assessment["valid"])
+        self.assertTrue(migrate_profiles.validate_v2_data(v2_data))
 
     def test_reconciler_profile_defaults(self):
-        """Verify that reconciler profiles without explicit operations get defaults."""
+        """Reconciler defaults are fully canonical and loader-valid."""
+        import gitea_config
+        import reconciler_profile
+
         v1_data = {
             "version": 1,
             "profiles": {
@@ -358,6 +403,77 @@ class TestMigrateProfiles(unittest.TestCase):
             reconciler["forbidden_operations"],
             migrate_profiles.RECONCILER_DEFAULT_FORBIDDEN,
         )
+        for op in reconciler["allowed_operations"]:
+            self.assertEqual(gitea_config.normalize_operation(op), op)
+            self.assertTrue(op.startswith("gitea."))
+        assessment = reconciler_profile.assess_reconciler_profile(
+            reconciler["allowed_operations"],
+            reconciler["forbidden_operations"],
+        )
+        self.assertTrue(assessment["valid"])
+        self.assertNotIn(
+            "gitea.branch.delete", assessment["missing_recommended_operations"]
+        )
+
+    def test_reconciler_migration_idempotent_canonicalize(self):
+        """Second canonicalize of already-canonical ops is a no-op."""
+        first = migrate_profiles.canonicalize_operations(
+            list(migrate_profiles.RECONCILER_DEFAULT_ALLOWED)
+        )
+        second = migrate_profiles.canonicalize_operations(first)
+        self.assertEqual(first, second)
+        self.assertEqual(first, list(migrate_profiles.RECONCILER_DEFAULT_ALLOWED))
+
+    def test_reconciler_missing_required_fails_visibly(self):
+        """Missing gitea.pr.close after migration fails closed (not silent drop)."""
+        v1_data = {
+            "version": 1,
+            "profiles": {
+                "prgs-reconciler": {
+                    "base_url": "redacted-prgs-service",
+                    "username": "reconciler-agent",
+                    "auth": {"type": "keychain", "id": "reconciler-ref"},
+                    "execution_profile": "prgs-reconciler",
+                    "allowed_operations": ["read", "gitea.branch.delete"],
+                    "forbidden_operations": ["merge"],
+                }
+            },
+        }
+        with self.assertRaisesRegex(ValueError, "missing required"):
+            migrate_profiles.migrate_v1_to_v2(v1_data)
+
+    def test_unknown_operation_fails_visibly(self):
+        v1_data = {
+            "version": 1,
+            "profiles": {
+                "prgs-author": {
+                    "base_url": "redacted-prgs-service",
+                    "username": "jcwalker3",
+                    "auth": {"type": "keychain", "id": "hidden-author-ref"},
+                    "execution_profile": "prgs-author",
+                    "allowed_operations": ["read", "not.a.real.op"],
+                    "forbidden_operations": ["merge"],
+                }
+            },
+        }
+        with self.assertRaisesRegex(ValueError, "cannot be canonicalized"):
+            migrate_profiles.migrate_v1_to_v2(v1_data)
+
+    def test_role_inference_author_reviewer_merger_reconciler(self):
+        self.assertEqual(
+            migrate_profiles.infer_role("prgs-author", "prgs-author"), "author"
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(
+            migrate_profiles.infer_role("prgs-reviewer", "prgs-reviewer"),
+            "reviewer",
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(
+            migrate_profiles.infer_role("prgs-reconciler", "prgs-reconciler"),
+            "reconciler",
+        )
+        self.assertIsNone(
+            migrate_profiles.infer_role("prgs-merger", "prgs-merger")
+        )
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":