President Shimon Peres on Thursday told visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi that his country was essential to efforts against Iran's nuclear ambitions.

"China has a central role in the struggle against Iran's nuclear development. At the head of the Iranian state stands fanatical religious leader who supports terror, war and blood shedding," Peres said.

"The efforts of Iran, a poor nation, to develop long-range missiles should cause every responsible leader to lose sleep."

The pair met at Peres' official residence in Jerusalem, where in addition to Iran they discussed the Middle East peace process and ways to further Israeli-Chinese economic and technological cooperation.

Jiechi, for his part, told Peres that it was Israel's right to protect its security and that the Holocaust was the reason why there is no debate over its right to exist, according to a statement released by the president's office.