Here's a short story:

Turkmenistan ( or ; , ), formerly known as Turkmenia, is a country in Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north and east, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south and southwest, and the Caspian Sea to the west. 

Turkmenistan has been at the crossroads of civilizations for centuries. In medieval times, Merv was one of the great cities of the Islamic world and an important stop on the Silk Road, a caravan route used for trade with China until the mid-15th century. Annexed by the Russian Empire in 1881, Turkmenistan later figured prominently in the anti-Bolshevik movement in Central Asia. In 1925, Turkmenistan became a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic (Turkmen SSR); it became independent upon the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. 

Turkmenistan possesses the world's fourth largest reserves of natural gas resources. Most of the country is covered by the Karakum (Black Sand) Desert. Since 1993, citizens have been receiving government-provided electricity, water and natural gas free of charge. 

Turkmenistan was ruled by President for Life Saparmurat Niyazov until his death in 2006. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow was elected president in 2007. According to Human Rights Watch, "Turkmenistan remains one of the world’s most repressive countries. The country is virtually closed to independent scrutiny, media and religious freedoms are subject to draconian restrictions, and human rights defenders and other activists face the constant threat of government reprisal." After suspending the death penalty, the use of capital punishment was formally abolished in the 2008 constitution. (End of story)

Provide your best guess for the following question. Give ONLY the guess, no other words or explanation.

For example:

Guess: <most likely guess, as short as possible; not a complete sentence, just the guess!>

Here are a few examples of questions and answers:

Question: What was an important stop on the Silk Road?
Guess: Merv

Question: What is that road?
Guess: the Silk Road,

Question: Is it a caravan route?
Guess: yes

Question: What business did it aid?
Guess: for trade with China

Question: Until when?
Guess: until the mid-15th century.

Question: Turkmenistan has been where for centuries?
Guess: at the crossroads of civilizations

Question: Is most of the country forest?
Guess: no

Question: What is it, then?
Guess: Most of the country is covered by the Karakum (Black Sand) Desert.

Question: What's one thing the residents get for free?
Guess: electricity, water and natural gas

Question: What natural resources is in abundance there?
Guess: natural gas resources

Question: Who ruled there until 2006?
Guess: President for Life Saparmurat Niyazov

Question: What punishment did they end there in 2008?
Guess: capital punishment

Question: What other punishment is no more?
Guess: the death penalty,

Now answer the following question in the same format.

Question: What's to the southwest of this country?

Iran