Delete Telegram Messages

Delete one or multiple messages from a chat. By default deletes for everyone.

Self-Evolving Skill: This skill improves through use. If instructions are wrong, parameters drifted, or a workaround was needed — fix this file immediately, don't defer. Only update for real, reproducible issues.

Preflight

1. Session must exist: ~/.local/share/telethon/<profile>.session
   • If missing, run /tlg:setup first

Usage

/usr/bin/env bash << 'EOF'
SCRIPT="${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT:-$HOME/.claude/plugins/marketplaces/cc-skills/plugins/tlg}/scripts/tg-cli.py"

# Delete for everyone (default)
uv run --python 3.13 "$SCRIPT" delete <chat> <message_id>

# Delete multiple messages
uv run --python 3.13 "$SCRIPT" delete <chat> 12345,12346,12347

# Delete only for yourself
uv run --python 3.13 "$SCRIPT" delete <chat> <message_id> --self-only

# Find message IDs first
uv run --python 3.13 "$SCRIPT" read <chat> -n 10
EOF

Parameters

Parameter	Type	Description
chat	string/int	Chat containing messages
message_ids	string	Message ID(s), comma-separated
--self-only	flag	Delete only for yourself (default: for everyone)

Workflow

1. Use read <chat> -n N to find message IDs
2. Delete by ID: delete <chat> <ids>

Anti-Patterns

• Cannot delete others' messages in private chats after 48 hours
• Admin required to delete others' messages in groups

Post-Execution Reflection

After this skill completes, check before closing:

1. Did the command succeed? — If not, fix the instruction or error table that caused the failure.
2. Did parameters or output change? — If tg-cli.py's interface drifted, update Usage examples and Parameters table to match.
3. Was a workaround needed? — If you had to improvise (different flags, extra steps), update this SKILL.md so the next invocation doesn't need the same workaround.

Only update if the issue is real and reproducible — not speculative.