diff --git a/src/agent/loop_.rs b/src/agent/loop_.rs
index 941e4d0..7aecc9a 100644
--- a/src/agent/loop_.rs
+++ b/src/agent/loop_.rs
@@ -644,7 +644,8 @@ fn parse_tool_calls(response: &str) -> (String, Vec<ParsedToolCall>) {
             remaining = &after_open[close_idx + close_tag.len()..];
         } else {
             if let Some(json_end) = find_json_end(after_open) {
-                if let Ok(value) = serde_json::from_str::<serde_json::Value>(&after_open[..json_end])
+                if let Ok(value) =
+                    serde_json::from_str::<serde_json::Value>(&after_open[..json_end])
                 {
                     let parsed_calls = parse_tool_calls_from_json_value(&value);
                     if !parsed_calls.is_empty() {
diff --git a/src/providers/compatible.rs b/src/providers/compatible.rs
index e24f961..9a8cc2a 100644
--- a/src/providers/compatible.rs
+++ b/src/providers/compatible.rs
@@ -140,15 +140,35 @@ impl OpenAiCompatibleProvider {
             format!("{normalized_base}/v1/responses")
         }
     }
+
+    fn tool_specs_to_openai_format(tools: &[crate::tools::ToolSpec]) -> Vec<serde_json::Value> {
+        tools
+            .iter()
+            .map(|tool| {
+                serde_json::json!({
+                    "type": "function",
+                    "function": {
+                        "name": tool.name,
+                        "description": tool.description,
+                        "parameters": tool.parameters
+                    }
+                })
+            })
+            .collect()
+    }
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize)]
-struct ChatRequest {
+struct ApiChatRequest {
     model: String,
     messages: Vec<Message>,
     temperature: f64,
     #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
     stream: Option<bool>,
+    #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
+    tools: Option<Vec<serde_json::Value>>,
+    #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
+    tool_choice: Option<String>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize)]
@@ -189,6 +209,13 @@ impl ResponseMessage {
             _ => self.reasoning_content.clone().unwrap_or_default(),
         }
     }
+
+    fn effective_content_optional(&self) -> Option<String> {
+        match &self.content {
+            Some(c) if !c.is_empty() => Some(c.clone()),
+            _ => self.reasoning_content.clone().filter(|c| !c.is_empty()),
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Deserialize, Serialize)]
@@ -476,6 +503,12 @@ impl OpenAiCompatibleProvider {
 
 #[async_trait]
 impl Provider for OpenAiCompatibleProvider {
+    fn capabilities(&self) -> crate::providers::traits::ProviderCapabilities {
+        crate::providers::traits::ProviderCapabilities {
+            native_tool_calling: true,
+        }
+    }
+
     async fn chat_with_system(
         &self,
         system_prompt: Option<&str>,
@@ -504,11 +537,13 @@ impl Provider for OpenAiCompatibleProvider {
             content: message.to_string(),
         });
 
-        let request = ChatRequest {
+        let request = ApiChatRequest {
             model: model.to_string(),
             messages,
             temperature,
             stream: Some(false),
+            tools: None,
+            tool_choice: None,
         };
 
         let url = self.chat_completions_url();
@@ -584,11 +619,13 @@ impl Provider for OpenAiCompatibleProvider {
             })
             .collect();
 
-        let request = ChatRequest {
+        let request = ApiChatRequest {
             model: model.to_string(),
             messages: api_messages,
             temperature,
             stream: Some(false),
+            tools: None,
+            tool_choice: None,
         };
 
         let url = self.chat_completions_url();
@@ -651,18 +688,106 @@ impl Provider for OpenAiCompatibleProvider {
             .ok_or_else(|| anyhow::anyhow!("No response from {}", self.name))
     }
 
+    async fn chat_with_tools(
+        &self,
+        messages: &[ChatMessage],
+        tools: &[serde_json::Value],
+        model: &str,
+        temperature: f64,
+    ) -> anyhow::Result<ProviderChatResponse> {
+        let credential = self.credential.as_ref().ok_or_else(|| {
+            anyhow::anyhow!(
+                "{} API key not set. Run `zeroclaw onboard` or set the appropriate env var.",
+                self.name
+            )
+        })?;
+
+        let api_messages: Vec<Message> = messages
+            .iter()
+            .map(|m| Message {
+                role: m.role.clone(),
+                content: m.content.clone(),
+            })
+            .collect();
+
+        let request = ApiChatRequest {
+            model: model.to_string(),
+            messages: api_messages,
+            temperature,
+            stream: Some(false),
+            tools: if tools.is_empty() {
+                None
+            } else {
+                Some(tools.to_vec())
+            },
+            tool_choice: if tools.is_empty() {
+                None
+            } else {
+                Some("auto".to_string())
+            },
+        };
+
+        let url = self.chat_completions_url();
+        let response = self
+            .apply_auth_header(self.client.post(&url).json(&request), credential)
+            .send()
+            .await?;
+
+        if !response.status().is_success() {
+            return Err(super::api_error(&self.name, response).await);
+        }
+
+        let chat_response: ApiChatResponse = response.json().await?;
+        let choice = chat_response
+            .choices
+            .into_iter()
+            .next()
+            .ok_or_else(|| anyhow::anyhow!("No response from {}", self.name))?;
+
+        let text = choice.message.effective_content_optional();
+        let tool_calls = choice
+            .message
+            .tool_calls
+            .unwrap_or_default()
+            .into_iter()
+            .filter_map(|tc| {
+                let function = tc.function?;
+                let name = function.name?;
+                let arguments = function.arguments.unwrap_or_else(|| "{}".to_string());
+                Some(ProviderToolCall {
+                    id: uuid::Uuid::new_v4().to_string(),
+                    name,
+                    arguments,
+                })
+            })
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+
+        Ok(ProviderChatResponse { text, tool_calls })
+    }
+
     async fn chat(
         &self,
         request: ProviderChatRequest<'_>,
         model: &str,
         temperature: f64,
     ) -> anyhow::Result<ProviderChatResponse> {
+        // If native tools are requested, delegate to chat_with_tools.
+        if let Some(tools) = request.tools {
+            if !tools.is_empty() && self.supports_native_tools() {
+                let native_tools = Self::tool_specs_to_openai_format(tools);
+                return self
+                    .chat_with_tools(request.messages, &native_tools, model, temperature)
+                    .await;
+            }
+        }
+
         let text = self
             .chat_with_history(request.messages, model, temperature)
             .await?;
 
         // Backward compatible path: chat_with_history may serialize tool_calls JSON into content.
         if let Ok(message) = serde_json::from_str::<ResponseMessage>(&text) {
+            let parsed_text = message.effective_content_optional();
             let tool_calls = message
                 .tool_calls
                 .unwrap_or_default()
@@ -680,7 +805,7 @@ impl Provider for OpenAiCompatibleProvider {
                 .collect::<Vec<_>>();
 
             return Ok(ProviderChatResponse {
-                text: message.content,
+                text: parsed_text,
                 tool_calls,
             });
         }
@@ -733,11 +858,13 @@ impl Provider for OpenAiCompatibleProvider {
             content: message.to_string(),
         });
 
-        let request = ChatRequest {
+        let request = ApiChatRequest {
             model: model.to_string(),
             messages,
             temperature,
             stream: Some(options.enabled),
+            tools: None,
+            tool_choice: None,
         };
 
         let url = self.chat_completions_url();
@@ -863,7 +990,7 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn request_serializes_correctly() {
-        let req = ChatRequest {
+        let req = ApiChatRequest {
             model: "llama-3.3-70b".to_string(),
             messages: vec![
                 Message {
@@ -877,11 +1004,16 @@ mod tests {
             ],
             temperature: 0.4,
             stream: Some(false),
+            tools: None,
+            tool_choice: None,
         };
         let json = serde_json::to_string(&req).unwrap();
         assert!(json.contains("llama-3.3-70b"));
         assert!(json.contains("system"));
         assert!(json.contains("user"));
+        // tools/tool_choice should be omitted when None
+        assert!(!json.contains("tools"));
+        assert!(!json.contains("tool_choice"));
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -1176,6 +1308,181 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(result.is_ok());
     }
 
+    // ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+    // Native tool calling tests
+    // ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+    #[test]
+    fn capabilities_reports_native_tool_calling() {
+        let p = make_provider("test", "https://example.com", None);
+        let caps = <OpenAiCompatibleProvider as Provider>::capabilities(&p);
+        assert!(caps.native_tool_calling);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn tool_specs_convert_to_openai_format() {
+        let specs = vec![crate::tools::ToolSpec {
+            name: "shell".to_string(),
+            description: "Run shell command".to_string(),
+            parameters: serde_json::json!({
+                "type": "object",
+                "properties": {"command": {"type": "string"}},
+                "required": ["command"]
+            }),
+        }];
+
+        let tools = OpenAiCompatibleProvider::tool_specs_to_openai_format(&specs);
+        assert_eq!(tools.len(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(tools[0]["type"], "function");
+        assert_eq!(tools[0]["function"]["name"], "shell");
+        assert_eq!(tools[0]["function"]["description"], "Run shell command");
+        assert_eq!(tools[0]["function"]["parameters"]["required"][0], "command");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn request_serializes_with_tools() {
+        let tools = vec![serde_json::json!({
+            "type": "function",
+            "function": {
+                "name": "get_weather",
+                "description": "Get weather for a location",
+                "parameters": {
+                    "type": "object",
+                    "properties": {
+                        "location": {"type": "string"}
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        })];
+
+        let req = ApiChatRequest {
+            model: "test-model".to_string(),
+            messages: vec![Message {
+                role: "user".to_string(),
+                content: "What is the weather?".to_string(),
+            }],
+            temperature: 0.7,
+            stream: Some(false),
+            tools: Some(tools),
+            tool_choice: Some("auto".to_string()),
+        };
+        let json = serde_json::to_string(&req).unwrap();
+        assert!(json.contains("\"tools\""));
+        assert!(json.contains("get_weather"));
+        assert!(json.contains("\"tool_choice\":\"auto\""));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn response_with_tool_calls_deserializes() {
+        let json = r#"{
+            "choices": [{
+                "message": {
+                    "content": null,
+                    "tool_calls": [{
+                        "type": "function",
+                        "function": {
+                            "name": "get_weather",
+                            "arguments": "{\"location\":\"London\"}"
+                        }
+                    }]
+                }
+            }]
+        }"#;
+
+        let resp: ApiChatResponse = serde_json::from_str(json).unwrap();
+        let msg = &resp.choices[0].message;
+        assert!(msg.content.is_none());
+        let tool_calls = msg.tool_calls.as_ref().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(tool_calls.len(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(
+            tool_calls[0].function.as_ref().unwrap().name.as_deref(),
+            Some("get_weather")
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            tool_calls[0]
+                .function
+                .as_ref()
+                .unwrap()
+                .arguments
+                .as_deref(),
+            Some("{\"location\":\"London\"}")
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn response_with_multiple_tool_calls() {
+        let json = r#"{
+            "choices": [{
+                "message": {
+                    "content": "I'll check both.",
+                    "tool_calls": [
+                        {
+                            "type": "function",
+                            "function": {
+                                "name": "get_weather",
+                                "arguments": "{\"location\":\"London\"}"
+                            }
+                        },
+                        {
+                            "type": "function",
+                            "function": {
+                                "name": "get_time",
+                                "arguments": "{\"timezone\":\"UTC\"}"
+                            }
+                        }
+                    ]
+                }
+            }]
+        }"#;
+
+        let resp: ApiChatResponse = serde_json::from_str(json).unwrap();
+        let msg = &resp.choices[0].message;
+        assert_eq!(msg.content.as_deref(), Some("I'll check both."));
+        let tool_calls = msg.tool_calls.as_ref().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(tool_calls.len(), 2);
+        assert_eq!(
+            tool_calls[0].function.as_ref().unwrap().name.as_deref(),
+            Some("get_weather")
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            tool_calls[1].function.as_ref().unwrap().name.as_deref(),
+            Some("get_time")
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn chat_with_tools_fails_without_key() {
+        let p = make_provider("TestProvider", "https://example.com", None);
+        let messages = vec![ChatMessage {
+            role: "user".to_string(),
+            content: "hello".to_string(),
+        }];
+        let tools = vec![serde_json::json!({
+            "type": "function",
+            "function": {
+                "name": "test_tool",
+                "description": "A test tool",
+                "parameters": {}
+            }
+        })];
+
+        let result = p.chat_with_tools(&messages, &tools, "model", 0.7).await;
+        assert!(result.is_err());
+        assert!(result
+            .unwrap_err()
+            .to_string()
+            .contains("TestProvider API key not set"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn response_with_no_tool_calls_has_empty_vec() {
+        let json = r#"{"choices":[{"message":{"content":"Just text, no tools."}}]}"#;
+        let resp: ApiChatResponse = serde_json::from_str(json).unwrap();
+        let msg = &resp.choices[0].message;
+        assert_eq!(msg.content.as_deref(), Some("Just text, no tools."));
+        assert!(msg.tool_calls.is_none());
+    }
+
     // ----------------------------------------------------------
     // Reasoning model fallback tests (reasoning_content)
     // ----------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/providers/router.rs b/src/providers/router.rs
index 78edde0..2d55869 100644
--- a/src/providers/router.rs
+++ b/src/providers/router.rs
@@ -137,6 +137,20 @@ impl Provider for RouterProvider {
         provider.chat(request, &resolved_model, temperature).await
     }
 
+    async fn chat_with_tools(
+        &self,
+        messages: &[ChatMessage],
+        tools: &[serde_json::Value],
+        model: &str,
+        temperature: f64,
+    ) -> anyhow::Result<ChatResponse> {
+        let (provider_idx, resolved_model) = self.resolve(model);
+        let (_, provider) = &self.providers[provider_idx];
+        provider
+            .chat_with_tools(messages, tools, &resolved_model, temperature)
+            .await
+    }
+
     fn supports_native_tools(&self) -> bool {
         self.providers
             .get(self.default_index)
@@ -382,4 +396,63 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(result, "response");
         assert_eq!(mock.call_count(), 1);
     }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn chat_with_tools_delegates_to_resolved_provider() {
+        let mock = Arc::new(MockProvider::new("tool-response"));
+        let router = RouterProvider::new(
+            vec![(
+                "default".into(),
+                Box::new(Arc::clone(&mock)) as Box<dyn Provider>,
+            )],
+            vec![],
+            "model".into(),
+        );
+
+        let messages = vec![ChatMessage {
+            role: "user".to_string(),
+            content: "use tools".to_string(),
+        }];
+        let tools = vec![serde_json::json!({
+            "type": "function",
+            "function": {
+                "name": "shell",
+                "description": "Run shell command",
+                "parameters": {}
+            }
+        })];
+
+        // chat_with_tools should delegate through the router to the mock.
+        // MockProvider's default chat_with_tools calls chat_with_history -> chat_with_system.
+        let result = router
+            .chat_with_tools(&messages, &tools, "model", 0.7)
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(result.text.as_deref(), Some("tool-response"));
+        assert_eq!(mock.call_count(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(mock.last_model(), "model");
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn chat_with_tools_routes_hint_correctly() {
+        let (router, mocks) = make_router(
+            vec![("fast", "fast-tool"), ("smart", "smart-tool")],
+            vec![("reasoning", "smart", "claude-opus")],
+        );
+
+        let messages = vec![ChatMessage {
+            role: "user".to_string(),
+            content: "reason about this".to_string(),
+        }];
+        let tools = vec![serde_json::json!({"type": "function", "function": {"name": "test"}})];
+
+        let result = router
+            .chat_with_tools(&messages, &tools, "hint:reasoning", 0.5)
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(result.text.as_deref(), Some("smart-tool"));
+        assert_eq!(mocks[1].call_count(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(mocks[1].last_model(), "claude-opus");
+        assert_eq!(mocks[0].call_count(), 0);
+    }
 }