Tehran, Aug 30 (DPA) Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Sunday presented his new 21-member cabinet, which includes three women, to parliament for approval.

Parliament has to evaluate the nominations within the next three days and approve them before Ahmadinejad's government can start its four-year tenure.

There are 14 new ministers in the cabinet. For the first time in the 30-year history of the Islamic republic, there are also three women among the nominees.

Ahmadinejad gave a short biography of the appointees and asked parliament to approve what he called a selection of scholars whose sole aim is to serve the nation.

He said the new government was committed to preserving justice and national dignity, and would be decisive in confronting any pressure from the West.

Several members of parliament voiced their criticism against the new ministers, terming them as inexperienced and only chosen due to their obedience to the president.

Ahmadinejad rejected the charges and said that he chose his cabinet according to their technical qualifications and management skills.

The opposition has several times accused Ahmadinejad of preferring ministers who were ideologically close to him, rather than giving priority to their qualifications.

'This is not true, my main aim is to have a group which brings the country forward,' Ahmadinejad said.

The president also rejected criticism over frequent changes of ministers and said 'from time to time the country just needs fresh forces'.

Responding to criticism of his nomination of the three women, Ahmadinejad said he was proud to have included women in his cabinet and was certain that all three would play an effective role in the government.

'Women form 50 percent of our total (70 million) population and appointing women as ministers gives these women, and especially all those female graduates, a perspective and hope that they can reach the highest posts in this country,' he said.