diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index fbae4fa4..b9a7264f 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -9,6 +9,13 @@
   - Simpler flow: `plan_next` → `search_one` → loop back until complete → `synthesize`
   - Consolidated `build_conversational_graph()` into `build_research_graph(output_mode="conversational")`
 
+### Removed
+
+- **Dead config options**: Removed vestigial fields from iterative planning refactor
+  - `confidence_threshold` from `ResearchConfig` and `ResearchState` (LLM decides completion via `is_complete`)
+  - `max_sub_questions` from `QAConfig` (iterative flow uses one question at a time)
+  - `sub_questions` field from `ResearchContext` (no longer populated)
+
 ## [0.27.2] - 2026-01-29
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/docs/agents.md b/docs/agents.md
index 2711156e..7c946caf 100644
--- a/docs/agents.md
+++ b/docs/agents.md
@@ -244,7 +244,6 @@ custom_config = AppConfig(
         provider="openai",
         model="gpt-4o-mini",
         max_iterations=5,
-        confidence_threshold=0.85,
         max_concurrency=3,
     )
 )
diff --git a/docs/cli.md b/docs/cli.md
index 93062065..83cbead1 100644
--- a/docs/cli.md
+++ b/docs/cli.md
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ Flags:
 - `--context`: Background context for the research
 - `--context-file`: Path to a file containing background context
 
-Research parameters like `max_iterations`, `confidence_threshold`, and `max_concurrency` are configured in your [configuration file](configuration/index.md) under the `research` section.
+Research parameters like `max_iterations` and `max_concurrency` are configured in your [configuration file](configuration/index.md) under the `research` section.
 
 ## Server
 
diff --git a/docs/configuration/index.md b/docs/configuration/index.md
index 2261b103..3b313216 100644
--- a/docs/configuration/index.md
+++ b/docs/configuration/index.md
@@ -85,7 +85,6 @@ qa:
     provider: ollama
     name: gpt-oss
     enable_thinking: false
-  max_sub_questions: 3
   max_iterations: 2
   max_concurrency: 1
 
@@ -95,7 +94,6 @@ research:
     name: ""
     enable_thinking: false
   max_iterations: 3
-  confidence_threshold: 0.8
   max_concurrency: 1
 
 search:
diff --git a/docs/configuration/qa-research.md b/docs/configuration/qa-research.md
index 611afa53..a5810e7f 100644
--- a/docs/configuration/qa-research.md
+++ b/docs/configuration/qa-research.md
@@ -32,17 +32,15 @@ qa:
     provider: ollama
     name: gpt-oss
     enable_thinking: false
-  max_sub_questions: 3  # Maximum sub-questions for deep QA
-  max_iterations: 2     # Maximum search iterations per sub-question
-  max_concurrency: 1    # Sub-questions processed in parallel
+  max_iterations: 2     # Maximum search iterations
+  max_concurrency: 1    # Concurrent search operations
 ```
 
 - **model**: LLM configuration (see [Providers](providers.md#model-settings))
-- **max_sub_questions**: For deep QA mode, maximum number of sub-questions to generate (default: 3)
-- **max_iterations**: Maximum search/evaluate cycles per sub-question (default: 2)
-- **max_concurrency**: Number of sub-questions to process in parallel (default: 1)
+- **max_iterations**: Maximum search iterations (default: 2)
+- **max_concurrency**: Number of concurrent search operations (default: 1)
 
-Deep QA mode (`haiku-rag ask --deep`) decomposes complex questions into sub-questions, processes them in parallel batches, and synthesizes the results.
+Deep QA mode (`haiku-rag ask --deep`) uses the research graph with a single iteration for quick, focused answers.
 
 ## Research Configuration
 
@@ -55,13 +53,11 @@ research:
     name: ""               # Empty to use qa model
     enable_thinking: false
   max_iterations: 3
-  confidence_threshold: 0.8
   max_concurrency: 1
 ```
 
 - **model**: LLM configuration. Leave provider/model empty to inherit from `qa` (see [Providers](providers.md#model-settings))
-- **max_iterations**: Maximum search/evaluate cycles (default: 3)
-- **confidence_threshold**: Stop when confidence score meets/exceeds this (default: 0.8)
-- **max_concurrency**: Sub-questions searched in parallel per iteration (default: 1)
+- **max_iterations**: Maximum planning/search iterations (default: 3)
+- **max_concurrency**: Concurrent search operations (default: 1)
 
-The research workflow plans sub-questions, searches in parallel batches, evaluates findings, and iterates until reaching the confidence threshold or max iterations.
+The research workflow uses an iterative feedback loop: the planner proposes one question at a time, sees the answer, then decides whether to continue or synthesize. This continues until the planner marks research as complete or `max_iterations` is reached.
diff --git a/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/agents/chat/agent.py b/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/agents/chat/agent.py
index 109eaf62..c1081f57 100644
--- a/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/agents/chat/agent.py
+++ b/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/agents/chat/agent.py
@@ -249,7 +249,6 @@ def create_chat_agent(config: AppConfig) -> Agent[ChatDeps, str]:
         state = ResearchState(
             context=context,
             max_iterations=1,
-            confidence_threshold=0.0,
             search_filter=doc_filter,
             max_concurrency=ctx.deps.config.research.max_concurrency,
         )
diff --git a/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/agents/research/dependencies.py b/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/agents/research/dependencies.py
index bcacbc7b..8a112d2a 100644
--- a/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/agents/research/dependencies.py
+++ b/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/agents/research/dependencies.py
@@ -13,9 +13,6 @@ class ResearchContext(BaseModel):
     """Context shared across research agents."""
 
     original_question: str = Field(description="The original research question")
-    sub_questions: list[str] = Field(
-        default_factory=list, description="Decomposed sub-questions"
-    )
     qa_responses: list[Any] = Field(
         default_factory=list, description="Structured QA pairs used during research"
     )
diff --git a/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/agents/research/graph.py b/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/agents/research/graph.py
index 52d69266..18b95a9f 100644
--- a/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/agents/research/graph.py
+++ b/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/agents/research/graph.py
@@ -27,17 +27,8 @@ from haiku.rag.config.models import AppConfig
 from haiku.rag.utils import build_prompt, get_model
 
 
-def format_context_for_prompt(
-    context: ResearchContext,
-    include_pending_questions: bool = True,
-) -> str:
-    """Format the research context as XML for prompts.
-
-    Args:
-        context: The research context to format.
-        include_pending_questions: Whether to include pending sub-questions.
-            Set to False for synthesis prompts where pending questions aren't relevant.
-    """
+def format_context_for_prompt(context: ResearchContext) -> str:
+    """Format the research context as XML for prompts."""
     context_data: dict[str, object] = {}
 
     if context.session_context:
@@ -45,9 +36,6 @@ def format_context_for_prompt(
 
     context_data["question"] = context.original_question
 
-    if include_pending_questions and context.sub_questions:
-        context_data["pending_questions"] = context.sub_questions
-
     if context.qa_responses:
         context_data["prior_answers"] = [
             {
@@ -267,9 +255,7 @@ def build_research_graph(
                 deps_type=ResearchDependencies,
             )
 
-            context_xml = format_context_for_prompt(
-                state.context, include_pending_questions=False
-            )
+            context_xml = format_context_for_prompt(state.context)
             prompt = (
                 "Generate a comprehensive research report based on all gathered information.\n\n"
                 f"{context_xml}\n\n"
@@ -301,9 +287,7 @@ def build_research_graph(
                 deps_type=ResearchDependencies,
             )
 
-            context_xml = format_context_for_prompt(
-                state.context, include_pending_questions=False
-            )
+            context_xml = format_context_for_prompt(state.context)
             prompt = (
                 f"Answer the question based on the gathered evidence.\n\n{context_xml}"
             )
diff --git a/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/agents/research/state.py b/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/agents/research/state.py
index e51a86b3..bc7d4f1e 100644
--- a/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/agents/research/state.py
+++ b/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/agents/research/state.py
@@ -29,9 +29,6 @@ class ResearchState(BaseModel):
     )
     iterations: int = Field(default=0, description="Current iteration number")
     max_iterations: int = Field(default=3, description="Maximum allowed iterations")
-    confidence_threshold: float = Field(
-        default=0.8, description="Confidence threshold for completion", ge=0.0, le=1.0
-    )
     max_concurrency: int = Field(
         default=1, description="Maximum concurrent search operations", ge=1
     )
@@ -45,7 +42,6 @@ class ResearchState(BaseModel):
         context: ResearchContext,
         config: "AppConfig",
         max_iterations: int | None = None,
-        confidence_threshold: float | None = None,
     ) -> "ResearchState":
         """Create a ResearchState from an AppConfig.
 
@@ -53,15 +49,11 @@ class ResearchState(BaseModel):
             context: The ResearchContext containing the question
             config: The AppConfig object
             max_iterations: Override max iterations (None uses config default)
-            confidence_threshold: Override threshold (None uses config, 0.0 disables check)
         """
         return cls(
             context=context,
             max_iterations=max_iterations
             if max_iterations is not None
             else config.research.max_iterations,
-            confidence_threshold=confidence_threshold
-            if confidence_threshold is not None
-            else config.research.confidence_threshold,
             max_concurrency=config.research.max_concurrency,
         )
diff --git a/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/app.py b/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/app.py
index c47d0457..b627b694 100644
--- a/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/app.py
+++ b/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/app.py
@@ -399,7 +399,6 @@ class HaikuRAGApp:
                     context=context,
                     config=self.config,
                     max_iterations=1,
-                    confidence_threshold=0.0,
                 )
                 state.search_filter = filter
                 deps = ResearchDeps(client=self.client)
diff --git a/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/config/models.py b/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/config/models.py
index 018284f4..e5e56b2f 100644
--- a/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/config/models.py
+++ b/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/config/models.py
@@ -78,7 +78,6 @@ class QAConfig(BaseModel):
             enable_thinking=False,
         )
     )
-    max_sub_questions: int = 3
     max_iterations: int = 2
     max_concurrency: int = 1
 
@@ -92,7 +91,6 @@ class ResearchConfig(BaseModel):
         )
     )
     max_iterations: int = 3
-    confidence_threshold: float = 0.8
     max_concurrency: int = 1
 
 
diff --git a/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/mcp.py b/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/mcp.py
index 4cbc29ab..b0d9fcf9 100644
--- a/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/mcp.py
+++ b/haiku_rag_slim/haiku/rag/mcp.py
@@ -199,7 +199,6 @@ def create_mcp_server(
                         context=context,
                         config=config,
                         max_iterations=2,
-                        confidence_threshold=0.0,
                     )
                     deps = ResearchDeps(client=rag)
 
diff --git a/tests/agents/research/test_research_graph.py b/tests/agents/research/test_research_graph.py
index 43e60246..c08e9693 100644
--- a/tests/agents/research/test_research_graph.py
+++ b/tests/agents/research/test_research_graph.py
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ async def test_graph_end_to_end(allow_model_requests, temp_db_path, qa_corpus):
     state = ResearchState(
         context=ResearchContext(original_question=doc["question"]),
         max_iterations=1,
-        confidence_threshold=0.5,
         max_concurrency=1,
     )
 
@@ -155,27 +154,6 @@ def test_format_context_for_prompt_with_session_context():
     assert "What is Y?" in result
 
 
-def test_format_context_for_prompt_excludes_pending_questions():
-    """Test format_context_for_prompt can exclude pending questions."""
-    from haiku.rag.agents.research.dependencies import ResearchContext
-    from haiku.rag.agents.research.graph import format_context_for_prompt
-
-    context = ResearchContext(
-        original_question="Main question?",
-        sub_questions=["Sub Q1?", "Sub Q2?"],
-    )
-
-    # With pending questions (default)
-    with_pending = format_context_for_prompt(context, include_pending_questions=True)
-    assert "Sub Q1?" in with_pending
-
-    # Without pending questions (for synthesis)
-    without_pending = format_context_for_prompt(
-        context, include_pending_questions=False
-    )
-    assert "Sub Q1?" not in without_pending
-
-
 def test_format_context_for_prompt_with_prior_answers():
     """Test format_context_for_prompt includes prior_answers."""
     from haiku.rag.agents.research.dependencies import ResearchContext
diff --git a/tests/agents/research/test_search_filter.py b/tests/agents/research/test_search_filter.py
index d4dfefc6..67a1d1da 100644
--- a/tests/agents/research/test_search_filter.py
+++ b/tests/agents/research/test_search_filter.py
@@ -78,7 +78,6 @@ async def test_research_graph_uses_search_filter(
     state = ResearchState(
         context=ResearchContext(original_question="Tell me about animals"),
         max_iterations=1,
-        confidence_threshold=0.5,
         search_filter=filter_clause,
     )
 
@@ -116,7 +115,6 @@ async def test_search_filter_none_searches_all(allow_model_requests, client_with
     state = ResearchState(
         context=ResearchContext(original_question="Tell me about animals"),
         max_iterations=1,
-        confidence_threshold=0.5,
         search_filter=None,
     )