On his first trip to Hawaii since becoming defense secretary, Leon Panetta stressed the need for time for international sanctions to work on Iran and Syria as calls grow for military intervention in each country.

"We’ve made very clear we’re going to prevent (Iran) from obtaining a nuclear weapon, and we are also going to ensure that they do not close the Strait of Hormuz," Panetta said Thursday. "(But) we think the sanctions are working. We think that diplomacy and holding the international community together in applying that pressure needs to continue — and that’s the right way to go right now. We hope that Israel will continue to be part of that international effort."

Panetta said the goal also is "to approach the issue of Syria on an international basis."