What is the blue oval?
Here's one answer from a comment posted to the original article:
The purple ring is not Tehran`s airport but is in fact the Azadi Tower which dominates the Azadi Square. Picture a HUGE roundabout-type layout with the Tower in the centre and surrounded by almost a lace-work set of pathways. When lit at night you will get that purple ring effect. (Never been to Iran, I just matched the picture and Google Maps and zoomed in on the area !!!)
- Ernie , Tring City, United Kingdom, 18/2/2013 00:13
That actually makes a lot of sense. First, here's a panoramic view of the square during the day:
(http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9o8jmqtu71qfthwao1_1280.jpg)
And here's an overhead/satellite photo:
(http://www.payvand.com/news/09/jun/Azadi-Square-Area.jpg)
And it does get pretty gaudily lit up at night:
(http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/27350984.jpg)